To increase vaccination uptake, Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib led the distribution of P2,000 cash incentives to about 500 senior citizens who got vaccinated for Covid-19.

“Nalipay kaayo ko nga kamo nitubag sa atong panawagan nga magpa-vaccine (I am happy that you responded to our call for you to get immunized),” he said, during the handing out of the monetary reward on Monday, October 17, 2022.

Jubahib implemented the vaccine incentive reward program, as an effective way to encourage seniors to get vaccinated, since they are at highest risk of deaths due to Covid-19.

The governor stressed that vaccination prevents severe illness, hospitalizations and death.

Studies show that people 65 and older who received both doses of vaccines reduced the risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization by 94%. 

Jubahib also dispelled misinformation and countered vaccine hesitancy among his constituents, as he called on his people to get vaccinated.

“Ayaw mo’g too sa mga istorya nga bisag unsa na lang… kay ang tinuod kung dili ka magpa-vaccine high-risk kayo ka. Dako kaayo ang posibilidad nga kung maigo ka sa Covid-19 delikado jud ang imong lawas, basig dili ka kakaya sa virus madisgrasya na hinuon ka (Do not believe fake news stories since the truth is unvaccinated individuals are high-risk. There is a great possibility that you cannot survive since unvaxxed people are more likely to die of Covid-19),” the governor said.  

He acknowledged the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for providing the funds for the incentives program.  

Ms. Neidel Feah Ferido, the Provincial Coordinator of the National Immunization Program, revealed that after the governor announced the incentives last August, vaccine rates among the elderlies increased by as much as 1.3% completing their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccines and 31.8% receiving their first booster dose.

Since the start of the vaccination drive last year, a total of 49,829 seniors in the province already completed their second dose, while 13,039 got their first booster dose of the vaccine.

She added that with the guaranteed cash reward, from August 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022 alone, some 561 seniors received their second doze, at the same time as 4,144 elderlies had their first booster shot. Nobags