By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The number of Bacolod City residents who are willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 has started to increase following the launch of the vaccination program among healthcare workers in the city earlier this month.

City Councilor Renecito Novero, who chairs the city’s vaccination center team, said the recent rise in confidence among the  residents is due to their extensive education and information drive.

The ceremonial and actual vaccination among the city’s hospitals had also further helped, as the healthcare workers have made their public testimonies that they did not feel or suffer any adverse reactions after being vaccinated.

Novero doesn’t have the exact data yet, although based on a separate report released by City Administrator Em Ang, vaccine acceptance among the city’s barangays had increased to 38 percent. A big jump compared to the 18 to 19 percent acceptance prior to the launch of the vaccination program.

The city councilor added that the City Health Office will further strengthen their information campaign in preparation for the mass vaccination which will take place by the second quarter of this year./DGB, WDJ