More than half of Cebu tourism workers vaccinated

CEBU, Philippines —  More than half of the targeted number of tourism workers in Cebu has been vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Department of Tourism (DOT) said.

In a statement, the DOT said it has vaccinated a total of 7,764 tourism workers as of September 22. This is 51.89 percent of the 15,257 target population, it added.

Some 647 out of the 1,062 tourism workers in Mandaue City have been inoculated, while 3,074 tourism workers of the 3,717 target in Lapu-Lapu City have also received their jabs.

Cebu City has vaccinated 2,453 tourism workers of the 4,073 target.

The province of Cebu, for its part, has vaccinated 1,590 tourism workers or 24.82% of its 6,405 target.

DOT Secretary Berna Puyat underscored the importance of vaccination in reopening the tourism sector.

“Vaccinating our tourism frontliners is the first step in regaining what the industry has lost from the pandemic hence, protecting our stakeholders in the soonest time will help reverse these effects and recoup our tourism’s momentum,” Puyat said.

“We need every help we can get to finally overcome this crisis as this really requires a whole-of-industry approach, involving not only the government but the private sector as well,” she added. 

Minglanilla

Meanwhile, Minglanilla Mayor Elanito Peña said that he has been actively urging his constituents to get vaccinated as their contribution to the goal of achieving herd immunity.

“Ako mismo niadto ko sa matag barangay aron pag-awhag sa mga tawo nga magpabakuna na,” he said.

Peña said that an estimated 92,000 people in his town have been vaccinated.

However, he also shared the challenged they have encountered, especially some people’s scepticism on the vaccine.

Health experts have repeatedly debunked claims that the vaccine itself would do anything adverse to the body. DOH officials have said that the COVID-19 vaccines being used in the Philippines are all safe and effective.

The vaccines have also been proven effective in preventing severe cases of coronavirus infection, including death.

Peña said that the public has less interest in getting Sinovac vaccine compared to the other vaccine brands.

The mayor hopes that those who are still having second thoughts about the vaccines would eventually decide to get one. — Philippine Star News Service and  JMD (FREEMAN)