The Philippine government plans to study the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) vaccination rollout in Muslim countries in order to address the low inoculation rate in Mindanao, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Health Usec. Myrna Cabotaje, chief of the National Vaccination Operations Center, doubts that the low inoculation rate stemmed from the religious beliefs of Muslims.
Cabotaje mentioned that Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have high vaccination rates even though the people of the four countries predominantly practices Muslim.
"Ano ba ang ginawa sa Malaysia at saka sa Indonesia na nagkumbinsi sa ating mga mamamayan na magpabakuna," Cabotaje said on Monday, January 21, during the Laging Handa press briefing.
"Pinakamatas na bakuna Kingdom of Saudi Arabi at UAE yata. So, these are Muslim countries, so, baka hindi totoo iyong religious beliefs. Baka may kailangan pang gawin," she added.
Cabotaje said that the NVOC also holds talks with the Imams, the Minister of Health, local chief executives, and other officials of BARMM to address the low vaccination rate in the region.
"We have one another, magtingin pa tayo kung ano pa iyong puwede nating gawin para mapataas iyong pagbabakuna sa ating mga Muslim areas," Cabotaje said.
