Nurse Anabella Abella serving as vax paymaster. Photo by Ernie Esconde
BALANGA CITY — To convince more residents to undergo vaccination against the coronavirus disease, the local government here offered cash incentive for 18 years old and above who will receive their first dose or booster shot effective March 7.
The offer is good for city residents only and for those who will undertake inoculation at vaccination sites in Waltermart, Balanga Capitol Square mall, public market and scheduled mobile vaccination in barangays in Balanga City.
“May P500 para sa mga taga-Balanga na magpapa-booster shot o first dose mula March hanggang March 24, 2022,” city rural health unit nurse Anabella Abella said. She acted as the paymaster.
She could not say if the increase in the number of people getting vaccination at the Waltermart was due to the incentive but she said based on their record, the number rose Monday.
“Dumami ngayon ang mga nagpapabakuna dahil as of the moment (10:30 a.m.) ay naka-45 na kami pero noong mga nakaraang araw lalo na last week ay nasa 25 lamang hanggang alas-dose,” Abella said.
Some of those in line for vaccination claimed that the incentive was not their main reason for undergoing vaccination.
“Ngayon lang ako nagpabakuna dahil may anak akong maliit at ngayon lang ako available at hindi dahil sa P500 na ibibigay. Luluwas din ako ng Maynila at hindi puwedeng sumakay ng bus ng walang bakuna,” Mary Joy Arguelles said.
Mayor Francis Garcia said the move was to maintain the low cases of Covid- 19 in Balanga City.
As of Saturday, there were four new confirmed cases but with no new recoveries and no new fatalities. With these data, total number of those who tested positive of Covid–19 reached 7,749 with 23 active cases. There were 7,496 who recovered and 230 deaths.
