CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Amid the continuing call of the government, some people here remain hesitant to get booster shots that “give extra protection against the ongoing threat of Covid-19.”
Jayboy Lumapas said he is afraid that the adverse effects of the vaccines would get worse as he had been experiencing side effects from his first and second doses.
"I'm not sure if it's directly related or not (referring to the side effects of the vaccines), but I’m scared that it would get worse," Lumapas said.
Department of Health (DOH) officials have said that there are possible adverse effects in every vaccine, such as tenderness, pain, warmth, redness, itching, or swelling on the arm where the person was inoculated.
People who have received their booster shots have reportedly been generally unwell, feel tired, have chills or
fever, headache, and have joint pain or muscle ache.
But the DOH said these were signs that the body of a person is building protection against the virus.
Lumapas said he would get a booster shot in the future "if it’s already required."
Sarah Shem Gallana of Barangay Camaman-an still won’t get a booster shot as she no longer needs it. Gallana said she did not want to get vaccinated at all but the situation forced her to do so.
The national government did not implement mandatory vaccination in the country, but many businesses, during the height of the pandemic, required people to be fully vaccinated before they can enter their establishments.
Danica Gamalo of Barangay Bayabas said getting a first and second booster shot have always been her choice.
"The main reason why I chose to get vaccinated with booster shots, not only to get full protection from the Covid-19 but to also assure that I’m much safer to interact with other people, especially with my workmates and family," Gamalo said.
A Social Weather Stations survey last December said that 69 percent of the estimated 9.5 million adult Filipinos who have not been vaccinated are still hesitant to get jabbed.
Dr. Ina Grace Chiu, national immunization program medical coordinator of the City Health Office (CHO), said in a press briefing on Monday, April 3, that 182,445 individuals here have received first booster vaccination as of March 31. But the figure is only 45.48 percent of the 595,067 fully vaccinated individuals in their primary series.
However, only less than five percent coverage is needed for this city to achieve the 50 percent target for the first booster vaccination of the general population. More than 31,400 individuals have received the second booster shot.
The CHO said 81.8 percent of the total target population in the A2 category (senior citizens) have been fully vaccinated.
The LGU only needs less than 10 percent to achieve the 90 percent target for the category.
Chiu announced that there are no Covid-19 vaccinations in malls here, but these are still available in the city health office and at the 54 health centers here.
Despite the hesitance of residents, city health officials will continue their task to encourage people to get vaccinated, as Dr. Teodulfo Joselito Retuya Jr., this city’s top epidemiologist, said during the press briefing that there had been a spike in Covid-19 cases since the start of March.