TACLOBAN CITY –– The decision of Mayor Alfred Romualdez of this city to have himself vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) appeared to have achieved its goal.
Senior citizens of the city, who were earlier hesitant to get inoculated, have changed their minds and are now willing to receive the vaccine.
“There was really a (strong) impact among senior citizens here when Mayor Romualdez had himself vaccinated,” said Angela Figer, head of the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (Osca).
“Our senior citizens are now more than willing to be vaccinated, unlike before,” she added.
The Osca head cited the case in Barangay 99, where out of the 239 senior citizens, only 15 were willing to get vaccinated.
“But with Mayor Romualdez receiving his dose of vaccination, they are now encouraged. They are calling our office now,” she said.
Osca records show that there are more than 18,000 senior citizens or those aged 60 and above.
The city’s senior citizens are expected to be vaccinated early next month.
Romualdez, who got infected with the virus last December, received the vaccine from Sinovac on March 22.
He said he would like to encourage the residents of the city to have themselves vaccinated.
His move, however, was criticized by some.
The Department of Interior and Local Government had directed him to explain why he got the vaccine ahead of the healthcare workers.
Tacloban earlier received 1,600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines and 600 from Sinovac.