Communications Secretary Martin Andanar urged the public to get vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) when their turn comes, saying the light at the end of the tunnel was finally in sight.
Andanar made the statement as the government ramps up its vaccination efforts, eyeing to soon inoculate the people who fall under the A4 and A5 priority groups or the government and economic frontliners and the indigent population.
In his radio program in State-run Radyo Pilipinas, Andanar stressed that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 was the "game-changer" in the country's fight against the pandemic.
"Pilipinas, natatanaw na natin ang pag-asang parating na, ang pag-asang hatid ng pagbabakuna (Philippines, we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, the hope that vaccination brings)," he said.
"Ito ang tinatawag nating game-changer sa ating laban kontra COVID (This is what we call the game-changer in our fight against COVID-19)," he added.
The Palace official urged the public to not delay getting vaccinated, especially if they fall under the groups that can receive the shots.
"Sa mga maaari nang magpaturok, please magpabakuna na po kayo. Sa kailangan pang maghintay, magtiis pa po tayo ng kaunti, parating na sila (To those who can get vaccinated, please do so, but to those who are yet in line, please wait for a while. More vaccines are coming)," he said.
Andanar, meanwhile, encouraged the public to keep following health protocols as the country grappled with the health crisis.
"Malayu-layo pa tayo sa pinapangarap nating herd immunity kaya huwag nating kalilimutan – minimum health protocols pa rin ang pairalin natin (Our dream of herd immunity is not yet coming so let's not forget to follow minimum health protocols)," he said.
"Magdasal, mag-ingat, makibahagi at makiisa sa ating kapwa (Pray, take caution, and take part with the rest of the nation in fighting the pandemic)," he added.
The National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 said that the Philippines broke its daily jab record with 237,984 doses administered on May 21, higher than the 229,769 shots administered nationwide on May 20.
According to the NTF, the country is expected to soon breach the one-million mark in terms of individuals who have received both vaccine doses, as well as hit the four-million mark for total vaccines administered throughout the country.