POLICE nationwide have been ordered by General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar to local government units encourage residents to get inoculated against COVID-19 as part of the national government’s ramped-up vaccination program.

This as Dr. Ted Herbosa, special adviser to the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19, pointed out that there are still individuals in various sectors who are hesitant over getting anti-COVID shots.

“Patuloy na tutulong ang ating kapulisan sa mga LGUs upang hikayatin ang publiko na magpabakuna laban sa COVID-19. Marami pa rin sa ating mga kababayan ang natatakot at nagdadalawang-isip magpabakuna dahil na rin marahil sa mga nakukuha nilang maling impormasyon tungkol sa bakuna,” the PNP chief said.

“Ngayong mas pinaiigting ang national vaccination drive, dapat ay may kaakibat itong mas malawak na information and education campaign para maengganyo ang ating mga kababayan na tumungo sa mga vaccination sites at magpabakuna,” he added.

Gen. Eleazar said police units could utilize the power of social media in educating the public as police offices have online accounts where they can post useful and helpful information on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.

He emphasized that at present, the country has more supplies of COVID-19 vaccine doses compared to previous months and that the public should avail them in order to achieve herd immunity.

“Ang pagpapabakuna laban sa COVID-19 ang pangunahing kontribusyon na ating magagawa kung nais nating magtuloy-tuloy ang pagbaba ng bilang ng kaso sa bansa. Tiwala tayo na ang mga bakuna ay sinuring mabuti ng mga dalubhasa at napatunayang ligtas iturok sa atin,” the top police official said.

Local Government Units have been urged to be more creative and innovative in encouraging the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The national government aims to vaccinate 70 percent of the population by the end of the year.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon