Lawmakers back national vax days

Senators on Tuesday welcomed the three-day “National Vaccination Days” that was proposed to help the government reach its target of inoculating 50 million Filipinos against the dreaded coronavirus before the end of the year.

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, chair of the Senate Health Committee, lauded the mass immunization program as he urged eligible individuals to receive their Covid-19 vaccine shots.

“Let us be heroes in our own way and put a stop to the spread of this virus by getting vaccinated. I am appealing to everyone to get vaccinated especially now that the program is open to the public.

Data show that unvaccinated people contract the virus and develop severe symptoms,” Go said in a press statement.

“Let us show sympathy to frontliners and make an appointment to the nearest vaccination site. Don’t hesitate because vaccination is the only solution for us to slowly return to our normal lives,” he added.

At the Laging Handa press briefing on Monday, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government is considering holding a three-day vaccination drive from 29 November to 1 December to fast-track the country’s vaccine rollout.

Galvez said they are eyeing to administer coronavirus jabs to at least 5 million Filipinos during the event, with the help of the private sector and medical groups.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, for her part, expressed support to the vaccination drive and stressed that the coronavirus jabs should be distributed immediately to avoid wastage of vaccines.

“We support the government’s last-ditch effort to achieve its target for this year. It’s saddening that they only offered a program for wide-range inoculation when vaccines are nearly expiring,” Hontiveros said.

“The DoH (Department of Health) reported during the budget hearing that 12,686 vaccine doses amounting to P6.9M expired without being used. Let’s not add this. The public has long been calling for this kind of urgency,” she added.

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson agreed, noting that achieving herd immunity will help the country’s economy get back on its feet.

“Late is never too late as long as it is for the greater good of the Filipino people,” he said in a message to reporters.

“A three-day National vaccination drive is a welcomed development for us to finally achieve herd immunity and hopefully, more. The Filipino people are aiming for the economy’s reopening because it will alleviate the country from poverty, hunger, unemployment, the closing of businesses, and debt,” he added.