With eagles and elephants, Philippines lures public for ‘zoo jabs’

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MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines opened a zoo on Wednesday as a makeshift vaccination centre within the hope its elephants and eagles can appeal to younger and aged folks hesitant about getting inoculated towards COVID-19.

Manila zoo was giving vaccinations to younger folks age 12-17 and the aged and permitting recipients of jabs to spend time observing its elephant enclosure, peacocks and extra.

“Aside from being secure and additionally getting vaccinated, the youngsters can even benefit from the open air, the surroundings, and the animals which might be right here inside,” mentioned Joyce Pablo, mom of one of many kids being inoculated.

The Philippines has to this point absolutely inoculated about half of its inhabitants, however many areas outdoors the capital area are lagging far behind, complicating efforts to suppress contemporary outbreaks of COVID-19.

Daily coronavirus infections have hit data a number of occasions this month, pushed by the particularly contagious Omicron variant, prompting a tightening of curbs on mobility, together with a public transport ban for the unvaccinated.

The Philippines has had issues with vaccine hesitancy that pre-date COVID-19, notably amongst kids.

For his half, President Rodrigo Duterte has even threatened to arrest unvaccinated folks.

Ray Salinel, a physician, mentioned the zoo was an excellent thought to encourage extra folks to be inoculated.

“After the vaccination of these aged 12-17 years, seniors, and these with a number of sicknesses, they will go across the zoo,” he mentioned. “Even if the zoo is not utterly open, they will benefit from the sights, the peacocks, eagles and Mali (elephant). They can chill out and neglect about their issues.”

(Reporting by Adrian Portugal; writing by Martin Petty; enhancing by Mark Heinrich)



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