Senate President Vicente Sotto III said on Thursday, February 11, that he will allow the public to witness his vaccination to support the government's COVID-19 immunization program and allay doubts about the efficacy of the vaccines.
Sotto said Filipinos need to be assured that vaccines against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to be purchased by the government are efficient and safe.
"And the only way to calm a doubting nation is if its leaders take the lead," he said.
"Lead by example. Iyan ang gusto kong gawin (That's what I want to do). Kung makikita ng ating mga kababayan na handa ang kanilang mga lider na magpabakuna sa kabila ng malawakang pagdududa kung ang mga bakuna ba ay epektibo o hindi, malamang ay ma-engganyo ang nakararami na makilahok sa vaccination program ng Malakanyang (If our people will see that their leaders decide to get vaccinated despite widespread doubts on whether the vaccine are effective or not, they will be enticed to participate in Malacañang’s vaccination program)," he added.
He said other government leaders must "step in" and help in convincing the public to get inoculated, "because the executive’s vaccination information drive is a failure."
"Hanggang ngayon ay punong-puno pa rin ng alinlangan ang ating mga kababayan kung epektibo nga ba ang mga binibiling bakuna ng Department of Health. Marami pa rin ang nagdadalawang-isip kung sila ba ay magpapabakuna o hindi (Until now our people are full of uncertainty if the vaccines being purchased by the Department of Health are really effective. Many are still undecide if they will be vaccinated or not)," the Senate leader said.
Aside from Sotto, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa previously said that he would be willing to get vaccinated in public to boost confidence in the administration's immunization program.
"Basta sigurado na galing kay Gen. Galvez, galing kay Sec. Galvez na bakuna, hindi 'yong mga bakuna d'yan na patago-tago kung mayroon man. Baka mamaya peke pa 'yon, sino hahabulin ko 'pag nadisgrasya tayo d'yan. Sa sigur tayo (As long as the vaccines came from Sec. Galvez, not those vaccines that are secretly acquired if there are any. Because they might be fake, who will I hold accountable if I end up in danger? We should be on the safe side.)," Dela Rosa said when asked by radio DWIZ in an interview last January 30.
"Kung mayroon man akong impluwensya sa mga kakabayan atin, makapag influence ako (If I have any influence over our countrymen, and I can influence them to get vaccinated), then I am willing to do it in public," he added.Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said President Duterte has refused to be inoculated against COVID-19 publicly, saying the Chief Executive will be injected on his buttocks.