CBCP-ECHC urges faithful to participate in national vaccination day
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Health Care (CBCP-ECHC) has urged the faithful to participate in the three-day vaccination drive next week.

"With Pope Francis, we would also like to encourage our brothers and sisters to participate in the Bayanihan Bakunahan-National Vaccination Days on Nov. 29, 30 and Dec.1, 2021 and beyond," CBCP - ECHC Chairman Bishop Rex Ramirez said in a statement dated Nov. 16.
He said all can all take part in this by helping promote the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination in their communities, encouraging others to avail of the COVID-19 vaccines in designated areas, collaborating with the Local Government Units (LGU) in the use of church spaces for the vaccination drive, and encouraging church workers to volunteer for vaccination activities in their particular areas.
Ramirez said no less than Pope Francis himself has affirmed that receiving a COVID-19 vaccine that is authorized by the respective authorities is an act of love.
Still, the CBCP-ECHC head stressed that every person should be free to choose whether or not to get vaccinated "according to their conscience."
"We would like to stress the need to recognize that every person should be free to choose whether or not to vaccinate according to their conscience and thus respect and promote the dignity of the individual conscience as well as the decision of conscientious objection," said Ramirez.
"However, those who choose not to be vaccinated for whatever reason should be aware of their obligation to protect themselves and others from infection and to protect themselves against the further spread of the virus. This is everyone's moral responsibility," he added.
The vaccination drive aims to inoculate 15 million Filipinos aged 12 years old and above.