CEBU CITY - Amid a lower booster jab rate in Central Visayas during the election season, local chief executives in the region were urged to ramp up booster inoculation against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

"A booster will ensure that the immunity of a person is maintained in order to remain protected from the Covid-19 virus," Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, regional pathologist and Visayas Vaccination Operations Center spokesperson, said on Monday.

She said the diminishing fear of people getting Covid-19 has contributed to the drop in the number of vaccinees showing up for their booster jab.

"Yes, it's highly probable that people have seen the low number of (Covid-19) cases and think that they don't need the vaccine, especially those for booster shots," Loreche told the Philippine News Agency.

She also said shifting priorities of local officials during the campaign period for the May 9 elections is also seen as a reason for the lower booster vaccination effort in the local government units (LGUs).

"Whilst it is true that elections got in the way of the vaccination activities as there was a deviation in the priority of activities, still it's the vaccinee's mindset that played a bigger role in the slowing of the vaccination," Loreche said.

She, however, noted the effort of some LGUs in enticing their constituents to get their third jab such as giving out incentives, visiting vaccinees down in the sitio (sub-village) level, and house-to-house drive for the senior citizens and persons with comorbidities.

DOH-7 records showed that southern Cebu towns have administered booster shots to only 8 percent of the 384,479 adults who took their second dose while 12 percent of the 444,235 adults in northern towns who have completed the primary shots got boosted.

In Metro Cebu localities, only about 17 percent of 1.9 million individuals showed up for their booster jabs. (PNA)