They are the true heroes.

Covid-19 testing czar and National Task Force (NTF) Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vince Dizon thus referred to public health workers and front-liners during the vaccination program at the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium in Tala, Caloocan City on Monday.

The hospital received 600 Sinovac doses good for 300 people.

Dizon, 46, along with the Medical Center Chief II Dr. Alfonso Victorino Famaran, Jr., 57, and chief nurse Samuel Sumilang, 49, were among the first officials to receive the vaccine.

“The vaccination did not hurt at all,” a beaming Dizon told reporters afterwards.

Famaran said the 180 who will get the vaccines at the Tala hospital is meant to show health workers and front-liners are crucial in achieving herd immunity, but admitted they are facing an uphill battle in convincing the public to have themselves inoculated.

Sumilang opted to be vaccinated as he is living with septuagenarians.

“This will help protect them,” he said.

Most of those who will be inoculated are in their 30s, Famaran said. In his case, he stayed for another 30 minutes to observe possible allergic reactions.

The Tala Hospital has 1,917 staff eligible for vaccination, but only 1,165 submitted responses to the questionnaire on whether they want to be inoculated or not. (PNA)