Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said he is willing to take the first COVID-19 vaccine shot once the vaccines arrive in the city to show Ilonggos that it is safe and effective.According to the mayor, he will submit himself together with other city officials as the first recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine in Iloilo City.
As the father of the city, Treñas said he has the responsibility to promote public welfare. Hence, to finally end the COVID-19 transmission the mayor promised the public that he will lead the city’s vaccination program to gain the confidence of Ilonggos who still refuse to get vaccinated.
“I, together with our Iloilo City Officials, will submit ourselves first for COVID-19 vaccination to show that there is nothing to worry about. This is also a way to gain confidence and revive our economy. Bilang Amay sang syudad, akon ginapromisa nga tatapon ang mga pumuluyo kag mangin maayo nga ihemplo,” he said in his Facebook page.
The mayor assured the residents that the city government has consulted with various experts before finally choosing AstraZeneca.
“Ginpili guid sang aton mga eksperto ang AztraZeneca vaccine bangud sa effectivity rate sini. Paagi sa pagvaccine sang aton mga pumuluyo, mas mapanubo ang tsyansa nga maospital kag mahilayo sa kamatayon,” he added.
The city government has made the advance purchase of AstraZeneca vaccines with an efficacy rate at 62-91% and is expected to arrive by second quarter this year.
The city is also intensifying its efforts in its COVID-19 vaccination campaign to ensure the residents that the vaccines are safe and effective.
Infectious disease specialists have explained that the current COVID-19 vaccines underwent the required clinical trials before finally being released to the market.
On the other hand, side effects of the vaccines which are feared by the public are common and can be compared to food-based allergies, according to Dr. Ludivico Jurao, assistant administrator for Patient Care and Head of the Infection Control at the Iloilo Doctors Hospital
Jurao explained that the reaction of the body to COVID-19 vaccines is natural and common as the vaccine stimulates the natural infection in the body and thereby stimulates its immunity against COVID-19.
“The vaccine simulates the natural infection, so instead of getting COVID-19, we can have components of the Covid vaccine which can stimulate immunity for stronger response in case of exposure to COVID-19,” Jurao explained.
Majority of the city residents are still hesitant to get vaccinated due to the fear of the side effects of the vaccines.
Data from the city government indicated that only 29% of the residents are willing to be immunized while a large chunk of the residents or 71% of them refuse to get vaccinated. (ERS)
