Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III encouraged healthcare frontliners to receive the Sinovac vaccine - the first vaccine available in the Philippines - as the country officially rolled out its coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination program on Monday, March 1.
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Duque led the symbolic vaccination program at the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) in Quezon City. He administered the Sinovac vaccine to Dr. Eileen Aniceto, 59, department manager of LCP’s Emergency Medicine and Outpatient Department. Aniceto is the first recipient of the Sinovac vaccine in LCP.
The symbolic program was also simultaneously done in five other hospitals namely: Philippine General Hospital in Manila, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center in Caloocan City, Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, Philippine National Police General Hospital in Quezon City, and the Victoriano Luna Medical Center in Quezon City.
“Dumaan sa napakahigpit at masusing pagsusuri, ito po ay ginamit na pinakamataas na pamantayan or standards of safety first of all (and) efficacy, and quality. So, huwag po tayong mag-alinlangan (It went through a very strict and thorough review, it has high standards of safety, efficacy, and quality. So, let us not doubt ),” said Duque.
“Ito pong bakunang ito ay 100 percent safe in preventing severe COVID infection. Iyon naman po ang ating hangad a maiwasan ang severe infection from COVID-19 (This vaccine is 100 percent safe in preventing severe COVID infection, which is our goal---- to prevent severe infection from COVID-19),” he added.
On Monday, 20 healthcare workers of the LCP will get vaccinated using the Sinovac vaccine, said LCP Director Vincent Balanag.
“We are confident that after this, marami pang susunod. We have received as much as 600 doses initially. We hope to finish this within the week,” he said. The LCP has a total of 1,250 personnel.
Duque said that the vaccination will help boost the country’s economy.
“I call on everyone to get vaccinated. This is the time. Dr. Anthony Fauci said that ‘the best vaccine is the one that is currently available.’ And what is the currently available vaccine? We only have Sinovac. Let us support it,” said Duque.
“Ito po ang susi para magumpisa ng manumbalik sa normal ang buhay ng mga Pilipino. Ito ang susi sa muli nating pagkamit ng dating sigla ng ating ekonomiya bago magkaroon ng pandemic (This is the key to bring the lives of Filipinos back to normal. This is the key to regaining the former vitality of our economy before the pandemic),” he added.
Mayor Joy Belmonte also urged the medical frontliners in Quezon City to get inoculated with the Sinovac vaccine.
“Para sa akin pare-pareho lang naman ang mga bakunang iyan (For me, all vaccines are the same),” she said.
“For me, time is of the essence. The best vaccine is the vaccine that is here and now ready for us to use,” she added.