Vice President Leni Robredo welcomed the idea of using government officials like herself as "guinea pigs" of sorts for the commercialized COVID-19 vaccine, just to prove Filipinos that it is safe.
(Photo by Charlie Villegas / OVP / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Robredo was told of this proposal by DZXL radio anchor Ely Saludar Sunday morning during the duo's program, "BISErbisyong Leni."
Saludar said noted how the Dengvaxia episode a few years ago have instilled fear among Filipinos regarding the use of vaccines. As the idea goes, the citizenry will once again believe in the efficacy of vaccines if government officials would take the lead.
"Kung ang dahilan ng pagpapauna (ay) para tumaas yung kumpiyansa ng tao, OK yun (If the purpose is to increase the public's confidence, then that's OK with me)," Robredo said.
The Vice President likened the notion to post red-tide situations wherein elected officials of a given coastal town or city would be first to eat seafood in order to show their constituents that it's once again safe.
"Di ba 'pag nagkakaroon ng red tide, kapag gusto mo nang ikumbinsi yung tao na safe na ulit (kumain), yung mga opisyal ng pamahalaan, halimbawa yung mayor sa lugar, pinapakita nila na sila yung mauunang kumain (After the occurrence of red tide, it's the local government officials like the mayors who eat first in order to convince the people that it's safe)," she explained.
Countries in the west have either begun mass immunizations or are close to doing so following the approval of the commercial use of COVID-19 vaccines. This means that the Philippines could get its turn in the near future, even as the government tries to source for more funds to buy the sought-after drug.
While Robredo acknowledged the apprehension that some Filipinos have on vaccines, she said a government-led information campaign would go a long way in helping change their mindset.
"Ang daming taong takot sa swab (test) pa lang, paano na sa bakuna? Yung pag-educate talaga malaking bagay (A lot of people are afraid to take swab tests, what more with vaccination? That why education is a big deal)," she said.
"Sana mas galingan pa natin yung information campaign, gawin talaga nating adbokasiya. Dapat binabahay-bahay yung tao kasi tumaas naman yung response natin sa vaccinations noon. Talagang umiikot yung mga barangay health worker (I hope we step up our information campaign and make it a true advocacy. We should go house-to-house because thats how we manage to increase our response to vaccinations back then. Barangay health worker really make their rounds)," the Liberal Party chairperson said.
Dengvaxia, an anti-dengue fever vaccine, was administered by the previous administration on an estimated 900,000 school children. It was belatedly known that the drug had harmful effects on individuals who had never contracted dengue prior to vaccination.
At least a hundred deaths among vaccinees have been linked to Dengvaxia.