The LA Dade-Kotopon Municipal Health Directorate conducted the 2nd National COVID-19 Vaccination Days Campaign from 21st – 26th April, 2022. The campaign covered the entire municipality, with several vantage points created for easy access by the community members. Some of the points include child welfare clinics, house-to-house visits, corporate organizations, embassies, private clinics, schools, and beaches.
The target audience for the campaign was individuals aged 15 years and above, and a total of 3301 people were vaccinated, with 1695 receiving their first dose, 750 receiving their second dose, and 856 receiving their first booster dose.
Objectives of the campaign were to increase vaccine uptake and demand in the municipality, address vaccine hesitancy and preference issues in collaboration with local stakeholders, and respond promptly to rumors using behavior change communication within the municipality and correct rising misconceptions.
Several activities and strategies were deployed during the campaign, including distribution of letters to stakeholders and organizations, radio discussions on Radio LATENU, jingles played in the local dialect (GA) throughout the six-day campaign, van announcements, volunteers megaphone street announcements, market storm on COVID-19 safety protocols and the need to be vaccinated, community engagement meetings with organized groups and associations to increase awareness, and monitoring and supervision of activities.
Achievements during the campaign included effective one-on-one (house-to-house) engagement, printing of five SBCC materials (banners) for COVID-19 vaccination campaign, and some organizations inviting the health directorate to vaccinate their workers.
However, several challenges were encountered, including refusals of vaccine (AEFI), lack of compliance since wearing of nose masks is no longer mandatory, hesitancy by pregnant women, need for community volunteers to have name tags or aprons for easy identification, and insufficient funds for programs.
The health directorate recommends that higher authorities should make vaccination cards mandatory to increase vaccination rates.
