Vice presidential aspirant Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Sunday reiterated his call for concerned government agencies to exert more efforts at further raising public awareness and confidence on COVID-19 vaccines, insisting that vaccination can lead toward achieving herd immunity and a return to normalcy.

Since there is no law mandating vaccinations against the COVID-19, Go said the government and the public should step up its information drive, adding that awareness-building initiatives are more effective in improving and sustaining vaccine confidence and uptake in the long-term.

“May mga pag-aaral na nagsasabi na tumataas naman ang vaccine confidence ng mga Pilipino kumpara noong nagsisimula pa lang tayo. Ako rin po napapansin ko sa pag-iikot ko, mas marami na ang willing magpabakuna (There are studies that say the vaccine confidence of Filipinos are now higher compared when the pandemic was just starting. I also noticed that whenever I go aroudn the country, more people are now willing to get vaccinated),” said Go.

“Kaya para sa akin dapat walang pilitan. Ang importante makuha natin ang kumpiyansa at tiwala ng mga kababayan natin at ipaintindi sa mga tao ang kahalagahan ng pagbabakuna laban sa COVID-19 dahil ito ang tanging susi at solusyon para makabalik tayo sa normal na pamumuhay (That’s why to me, no one should be forced. What is important is to get the confidence and trust of the people and explain to them the importance of getting vaccinated agaisnt COVID-19 because this is the only key and solution for us to return to our normal routine),” he insisted.

The chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography said all levels of government and sectors of society should work together to introduce innovative ways to incentivize vaccination so the country can meet its target in achieving herd immunity at the soonest time possible.

“Sa halip na gawing mandatory ang vaccinations, dapat palakasin na lang natin ang panghihikayat sa ating mga kababayan na magpabakuna (Instead of making vaccinations mandatory, the govenrment should just strengthen its drive in convincing people to get inocculated," said Go.

He pointed out fully vaccinated individuals have significantly lower risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19.

As a result, he said it would be safer to engage in normal activities for as long as basic health protocols, such as wearing a mask and social distancing, among others, are observed.

“Maaaring magbigay tayo ng mga incentives sa mga bakunado, tulad ng mas maluwag na mga patakaran. Maaaring puwede sila kumain at pumasyal sa labas, makapagtrabaho at makagalaw nang wala masyadong restrictions (They should give incentives to the vaccinated, like giving them less stricter protocols. They can also be allowed to eat and go some place, to work and to move about freely without much restrictions),” he proposed.

He also said the country is expecting to receive around 50 million more doses before the year ends, including the 10 million COVID-19 shots from the COVAX Facility.

“Bumababa na ngayon ang bilang ng mga kaso sa Maynila pero ‘huwag pa rin tayo maging kumpiyansa (the number of cases in Metro Manila has decreased but we still need to be careful),” he said.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases earlier moved to place Metro Manila under Alert Level 2 beginning last Friday, Nov. 5.

The new IATF Resolution No. 147 stated that the alert level will stay in place until Nov. 21.