DOH eyes aid-for-vax program in BARMM

The Philippine government is considering providing aid to residents who get vaccinated against COVID-19 in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Five challenges identified by DOH include vaccine hesitancy, limited manpower, fake news, late submission of daily vaccination reports, and lukewarm support from local government units.

DOH proposes conducting house-to-house vaccinations ('suyod'), information caravans, dialogues with hesitant individuals, providing 'ayuda' for those willing to be vaccinated, and radio plugging.

BARMM health authorities assured the Islamic community that COVID-19 vaccines are certified as Halal by the Philippine Halal Certification Board.

Religion is not cited as a major reason for low vaccination rates in BARMM; other Muslim-majority countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia have high inoculation rates.