As the government aims to achieve herd immunity by year-end, the Department of Interior and the Local Government (DILG) said Friday, June 25, that the immunization campaign against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will be hastened if the focus of the vaccination is on individuals who are willing to get the jab and if information dissemination is ramped up.

The government’s persuasive mastery is being put to test as some individuals are still hesitant to be injected due mostly to safety concerns despite repeated explanations from health experts.

However, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said they have coordinated with concerned government agencies, to raise vaccine confidence in the communities.

“Unahin lang natin muna ang gustong magpabakuna (We will first deal with those who are willing to be vaccinated) especially the economic frontliners. And we will continue to conduct information drives to encourage and influence others to get vaccinated,’’ Año said.

Last June 21, President Duterte threatened people who refused to get injected with imprisonment or an injection of Ivermectin, an anti-parasite drug known to treat animals.

Some believed that Ivermectin is an alternative treatment for COVID-19, a claim that has yet to gain full medical support.

Duterte issued the warning supposedly due to frustration over the low turn-out at some vaccination sites.

But some critics of the President interjected that the COVID-19 injection for individuals is voluntary and should not be the reason for them to land in jail.

As to concerns on the limited vaccine supply, Año said that 10 million more vaccines are expected in July.

He said the rollout of the vaccines in the local government units (LGUs) will commence once more vaccines arrive.