Our country has made significant strides in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. In the almost three years that we have been living under the constant threat of the virus, we have managed to implement measures and pursue initiatives providing better protection for our people and allowing the gradual resumption of our pre-pandemic day-to-day activities.

Apart from the implementation of minimum health protocols, our nationwide vaccination program is contributing enormously to the country's bid to return to normalcy. From the moment the Covid-19 vaccines became available in our country and consistently thereafter, I have been encouraging all our eligible Filipinos to get their complete vaccine and booster shots against the virus.

The vaccines have been proven to be effective at protecting people from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and even dying due to Covid-19, especially as variants continue to emerge.

I am glad that we have made significant progress in administering the vaccine primary series. As of 2 November, the Department of Health reported that more than 71 million Filipinos have already received their complete vaccine doses.

However, our country's booster rate remains low, with only 20.6 million doses administered. In fact, our booster rate is among the lowest in the entire Southeast Asian region. As of 1 November, we have only vaccinated around 48 percent of children aged 5-11. First booster dose uptake also remains low nationally among all age groups at around 26 percent of the target population.

As chair of the Senate Committee on Health, I once again call on all our qualified Filipinos: please get vaccinated and boosted to be better protected from Covid-19.

Our government has earlier launched its PinasLakas campaign to speed up and increase booster uptake across the country by setting up vaccination sites at malls, schools, workplaces, hospitals, terminals, and various communities. The vaccines and boosters are free and now even available on more accessible sites. Thus, I repeat: For all those eligible, please get your jabs now.

Let us remember that vaccine efficacy declines over time. To be better protected, it is always best to stay up to date with the recommended doses and boosters against the virus. It does not hurt to take extra precautions when it comes to our health. We cannot afford to be complacent as the threat of this unseen and evolving enemy remains.