Bong Go suggests that public vaccination of gov’t officials would increase public trust in COVID-19 vaccines
Bong Go suggests that public vaccination of gov’t officials would increase public trust in COVID-19 vaccines
Senator
Christopher “Bong” Go said on Thursday, March 4, that he supports
suggestions to inoculate government officials in public to allay concerns and
raise public interest in COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy.
Sen.
Go, on the other hand, stressed that this should be achieved without regard for
the government’s national COVID-19 vaccination program’s priority list, which
listed essential sectors as priorities, such as frontline workers and the poor
and vulnerable.
Sen.
Go was asked if he supports placing local officials on the priority list for
COVID-19 vaccine during the launch of the Malasakit Center in Rafael Lazatin
Memorial Medical Center in Angeles City, Pampanga.
The
Senator gave a positive response, saying, “Bakit hindi? Kumpiyansa po ang
kinukuha natin dito. Eh, kung ibig sabihin nga nito, kung ang Mayor ninyo
nagpabakuna nga, so ibig sabihin magtiwala kayo.”
Sen.
Go said he would support such a suggestion if it would help to alleviate public
concerns about vaccinations.
“Ang
importante nito, to get the confidence of your constituents po sa lugar. Kung
mayor, to get the confidence of your constituents sa inyong lugar,” Senator
added.
“So,
ako naman po pabor ako kung ‘yon na po ang magiging desisyon ng ating IATF, na
pangungunahan po ng mayor ay sang-ayon po ako, para makuha natin ang
kumpiyansa,” he added.
Although
vaccination is voluntary, Go emphasizes its importance in achieving herd
immunity in the country.
“Wala
naman po itong pilitan. Buhay po nila ‘yan. So boluntaryo naman po ito. Kami
naman po rito sa gobyerno ay pinapaintindi namin sa kanila na tanging bakuna
lamang po ang susi o solusyon dito sa ating problema kontra COVID-19,” Sen.
Go said.
Meanwhile,
Sen. Go and President Rodrigo Duterte were scheduled to attend
the turnover ceremony for AstraZeneca vaccines, which are supposed to
arrive in the country at 7:30 p.m. on March 4, according to a letter from
UNICEF to the Department of Health.
The
AstraZeneca vaccines, which will be
the country’s second batch of COVID-19 vaccines, come from the World Health
Organization-led Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility, a global program that
ensures access to COVID-19 vaccines around the world.