A party-list lawmaker on Tuesday appealed to all Metro Manila mayors to set bold targets on vaccinating those who have not yet completed their primary doses or have not received their booster shots against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

BHW Party-list Representative Angelica Natasha Co said the gradual reopening of college campuses is “another strong reason” to get “vaccinated and boosted”, as she suggested school clinics to be used as vaccination venues, not just drugstores.

Co said messaging to the public “must be clear and urgent” on why they need to get fully vaccinated and boosted despite the lower Covid-19 Omicron threat to public health.

“I am for reopening all campuses from June to September only when all their students, teachers, and personnel are 100 percent fully vaxxed and boosted. There is enough time to make this happen. If NCR and some other places are able to achieve 100 percent vaxx and boosting then they can go ahead with face-to-face classes but with face masks on while indoors,” she said.

Aside from the return of face-to-face classes, she said another reason for inoculation is the upcoming May 9 polls.

“We can reduce the risk of Covid spread on May 9 with primary dosing and boosters,” Co said.

She said the local government units (LGUs) in the National Capital Region (NCR) must make it their working target to have all priority sectors get inoculated and boosted from March 1 to April 30.

“So that before the May 9 Election Day they are adequately protected for the mass gathering event of voting at the precincts,” she said.

“The LGUs of NCR must find and jab every NCR resident who has not yet been vaxxed and boosted. There could be a million or so of them still evading or hesitant because they do not believe in science or fear possible but rare side effects instead of fearing getting Covid, hospitalized, and death,” she added. (PNA)