Former Senator Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. has urged Local Government Units (LGUs) to increase the number of vaccination sites and provide incentives to encourage hesitant Filipinos to get vaccinated.
Marcos' appeal comes amid persistent reports of vaccine hesitancy among the unvaccinated senior citizens in urban and rural areas.
He also said that the government should embark on a massive information campaign on social media platforms, touting the benefits of being fully vaccinated in one's mobility and the protection of one's family.
"Dapat ay paigtingin ang information campaign ng pamahalaan at bigyang diin ang benepisyo ng kumpleto ang bakuna gaya ng mas malayang pagkilos sa kanilang mga komunidad at siyempre ang proteksiyon ng pamily mula sa Covid19 (Government should accelerate its information campaign and give emphasis on the benefits of vaccination for a freer movement in the community and give protection to the family from COVID-19)," Marcos said.
Marcos also encouraged LGUS to bring the vaccination sites closer to the people especially in remote areas where mass transportation is a problem.
Another reason for the hesitancy among people in rural areas is their fear of losing income because they would be marked absent from work while getting the jab, he explained.
He urged LGUs to provide financial incentives to the unvaccinated and talk to their employers so that getting vaccinated will be considered as an added benefit or a paid holiday for the employee.
Marcos added that addressing the needs of the hesitant unvaccinated would change people's views on vaccination and would certainly help the country reach herd immunity faster.