The Bangsamoro Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the region with the lowest vaccination rate, should be wary of another surge in Covid-19 cases.
Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief, said Monday night that with just less than 30 percent of its target population fully vaccinated so far, it will be difficult for BARMM to recover from another spike in infections.
During the prerecorded “Talk to the People” of President Rodrigo Duterte, Galvez said BARMM and neighboring Soccsksargen Region have the lowest vaccination coverage among 17 regions, fully inoculating 27.31 percent and 59.26 percent, respectively, of eligible residents so far.
“So pagka po nagkaroon ng surge, mahihirapan po ang BARMM just in case sa kanila po tumama ‘yung tinatawag nating pandemic (If there will be another surge, it will be difficult for BARMM, just in case they be hit by the pandemic),” Galvez said.
The government is already taking necessary actions to encourage more BARMM residents to avail of the Covid-19 jab, including planned special vaccination days after the May 9 polls.
Galvez earlier said that some Muslims are reluctant to get vaccinated over concerns that the Covid-19 jabs are not permissible under their religious and cultural beliefs.
Duterte said the government respects and honors their beliefs, but public health should be prioritized.
The President cited that Middle East countries were among the first to purchase Covid-19 vaccines.
Duterte likewise urged BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim to “give a little push” in convincing more residents to avail of protection against the dreaded disease.
At the Laging Handa public briefing on Tuesday, Philippine Foundation for Vaccination Executive Director Dr. Lulu Bravo cited the importance of proper information dissemination, particularly in areas that are still lagging in their vaccination coverage.
Bravo cited that other Muslim-dominated countries, like Malaysia and Indonesia, have already vaccinated about 85 percent of their population.
“Ang ganda-ganda na na kanilang Covid cases. Bumagsak na rin gaya ng dito sa Pilipinas sa ngayon (They have good Covid cases number. It has dropped significantly like here in the Philippines ),” she said.
Bravo said Muslim health professionals and experts as well as BARMM officials can talk directly to the people to explain the benefits of Covid-19 vaccines.
“Sila po ang makakatulong sa atin upang ipaliwanag ng maayos sa ating mga kababayan dyan sa Mindanao ang kahalagahan ng pagbabakuna (They are the ones who can help us to properly explain to our fellow countrymen there in Mindanao about the importance of vaccination),” she added.
As of April 8, the Philippines has already administered 143,966,310 doses.
Of the total, 66,609,892 are fully vaccinated while 12,443,226 of them already have booster or additional doses (PNA)
