The challenge to boost vaccine confidence and end the pandemic
By Dr. Manuel M. Dayrit MD, MSc, Former Secretary of Health
Many of us have lost loved ones, friends, or acquaintances to COVID-19. Just this month, I lost a medical school classmate who is an ENT surgeon. On the other hand, I have classmates and friends who battled COVID and survived.
The spectre of severe illness and death can be overwhelming. But we must do what it takes to get everyone’s lives back to normal and move forward. What it takes is a strong messaging initiative on the necessity of vaccines, and the resources to better promote vaccination among those who lack the right information. Our future, the future of the country, depends on it.
May I make three brief points.
First, as scientific studies and real-life experiences from countries including our own have shown, rapid vaccination of the populations is the key to getting people’s lives back to normal. We must thus push to increase our vaccination target, and to realize them faster.
As we open vaccination to the general population, let us give more freedom to the fully vaccinated. More and more countries in Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas are doing this already, to the benefit of their economies and social lives.
Second, let us provide our hospital facilities with the financial capacity to serve the critically ill for COVID as well as non-COVID cases. Timely support from PhilHealth will prevent the contraction of already limited critical care capacity. But beyond these acute concerns, let us take this opportunity to look ahead to building a health financing system that can respond to our country’s goal of universal health care.
Third, let us find innovative ways to better support and empower local government units and their constituencies to prevent COVID infections and mitigate its effects. Executing the mantra of Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-
I have two suggestions here. One, highlight the success stories and propagate them. To mention a few: NCR’s “Vax as ONE” strategy, Baguio’s GPS tracking of cases, and CARAGA’s forum of governors to coordinate pandemic control measures.
Two, develop a system for coaching LGUs so that creative solutions arise. Many of our fellow countrymen are still uninformed, or worse, misinformed or even disinformed, about the value of vaccines. Providing life-saving information about the benefits of getting vaccinated must start from the ground up.
It is our people’s attitudes and behaviors which will win the day.
In closing, let me remind you that like all epidemics, COVID-19 will subside. We can hasten its path to endemicity. Let us vaccinate quickly and methodically, empower all sectors of our society to work together and create innovative ways to defeat COVID.