A group of senior citizens has expressed willingness to help raise the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination accomplishment of their sector in the province.

The Antique Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines (FSCAP) Antique chapter president Edgar Maghari, in an interview Friday, said they will be working closely with local health officers during their advocacy campaign since they have difficulty in explaining technical questions being raised by their peers.

“We found it hard to explain the advantages and disadvantages of Covid-19 vaccination among our fellow seniors so what we will do now is to coordinate and facilitate the venue for the health officers to campaign,” he said.

Maghari added that, together with their municipal counterparts, they will call on senior citizens to a meeting with local health officers to convince the elderly to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

He cited a high negative perception of the Covid-19 vaccination among seniors, especially in far-flung areas, who could rarely be reached by the Department of Health (DOH) information campaign posted through social media.

“There had also been low Covid-19 cases in the remote areas that is why the seniors don’t see the need for vaccination,” he said.

The FSCAP will be embarking on the campaign in response to the appeal of Governor Rhodora Cadiao for those unvaccinated to submit to the inoculation.

Meanwhile, the Liga ng Barangay (LnB) in Antique will meet on April 6 to discuss their strategy to entice more elderly to get the Covid-19 jab.

“We will conduct a more frequent house-to-house campaign among seniors,” said LnB president Pamela Socorro Azucena in a separate interview.

A report generated by the Regional Vaccination Operations Center (RVOC) as of 3 a.m. Friday showed that of the 62,029 target A2 population in Antique, 31,105 or 50.15 percent have at least one dose; 29,996 or 48.36 percent are fully vaccinated; and 5,614 or 9.05 percent already had their booster dose. (PNA)