Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Monday expressed his willingness to be vaccinated together with President Duterte in public to demonstrate the vaccines’ safety and efficacy.
(KING RODRIGUEZ / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO)
“It's not a question anymore if the President is willing to be vaccinated in public or not because we all want to be vaccinated. We are doing this not because we are priority. Gagawin po namin ito para ipakita sa publiko na dapat magtiwala tayo sa bakuna (We will be doing this to show to the public that we should trust the vaccine),” Go said during a radio interview.
“Sabay po kami magpapabakuna, in public po, at inaantay nalang namin, pinagpipilian ng kanyang doktor kung ano pong bakuna ang pwede sa kanyang edad na pwede sa kanyang kalusugan (We will be inoculated together in public, we are just waiting for his doctor’s advice on what vaccine should be used considering the President’s age and state of health)” he added.
Go said that once the President’s physician has recommended a vaccine, they would be inoculated together in public.
He also stated that several public officials, led by Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and Secretary Vince Dizon, have agreed to be vaccinated in public to allay apprehensions about getting inoculated due to safety concerns.
Go said that vaccine czar Secretary Galvez and Deputy Chief Implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 Vince Dizon are willing to be inoculated with the Sinovac vaccine.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. has likewise volunteered to be inoculated.
Go, who chairs the Senate health committee, said that only the success of the vaccination program could restore normalcy in the country. “‘Wag po kayong matakot sa bakuna, matakot po kayo sa COVID-19 (Do not be afraid of the vaccine, be afraid of COVID-19.)
“Kailangan natin ipakita sa publiko na ang bakuna ay dapat pagkatiwalaan. Ang bakuna ang tanging susi o solusyon sa ating pagbabalik sa normal nating pamumuhay (We need to show to the public that the vaccine should be trusted. The vaccine is the only key or solution for us to return to our normal way of living),” Go added.
He acknowledged that many frontliners remain hesitant but stressed that medical and other frontline workers must be prioritized in the vaccination in order to preserve the healthcare system.
Yesterday, Go joined President Duterte at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City to personally witness the arrival of the 600,000 Sinovac vaccine doses donated by the Chinese government.
He said that the arrival of vaccines is also a testament to the Philippines’ strong diplomatic relations with other countries and multilateral organization.