VARIOUS religious sectors in Davao Region are advocating for Covid-19 vaccination amid anti-vaccine statements by some local religious leaders.
In a video posted on the official Facebook page of the Department of Health-Davao (DOH-Davao) on December 2, 2021, Archbishop Romulo Valles, Reverend Anselmo Ingay of the Bible Baptist Church Davao, and Comm. Alim Jamal Munib of the Ulama Sector-National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, among other leaders, delivered a message encouraging the public to get vaccinated for Covid-19.
The video message stated that the vaccine is an effective protection against the spreading virus.
“Sa padayon nato pakigbatok aning pandemya, padayonon natong mamahimo kitang usa sa tumong nga maprotektahan atong pamilya ug matag usa,” the religious leaders said.
(In our ongoing battle against the pandemic, let’s unit to protect one another and our families.)
Other religious leaders who advocated for the Covid-19 vaccine are Sherrila Porza-Sawah of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos-Davao Region, Elder Ferdinand Pangan of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Reverend Grace Bangisan of the United Church of Christ of in the Philippines, and Pastor Edwin Magdadaro of the Davao Mission of the Seventh-day Adventists.
In another video that went viral earlier this year, an unnamed pastor based in Davao City spread false information about the Covid-19 vaccine that further perpetuated vaccine hesitancy to some people.
Another unvaccinated pastor was also diagnosed with a severe case of Covid-19, as previously disclosed by Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio during an interview with Davao City Disaster Radio on September 13, 2021.
Amid the false claims on the vaccine, Dr. Lenny Joy Johnson-Rivera, assistant regional director of DOH-Davao, explained that 94 percent of deaths caused by Covid-19 are unvaccinated.
“Walang deaths sa Davao Region because of the bakuna alone. Most of the deaths that we have, may (severe) comorbidities,” said Rivera.
