An infectious disease expert said he is in favor of making the vaccination against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) mandatory in the country.
"If this will be mandatory, I will really support that," said Dr. Rontgene Solante, chief of the Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Unit of San Lazaro Hospital, in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel.
Solante said that vaccines can provide protection against COVID-19.
"Well at this point in time, we know that vaccines can protect us. We know how vaccines can prevent the infection. We have suffered a lot and why are we hesitant? We already have the vaccines, what still do we want? These are the things that we need to balance in order to move on with our life," said Solante.
Aside from vaccines, the infectious disease expert also reminded the public that following the health protocols can also provide another layer of protection.
Solante said adherence to minimum public health standards is very important especially during this holiday season.
"We need more information about the Omicron variant of concern. We have to be careful. We have to follow the health protocols...and please don’t engage in unwanted gatherings, even parties at this point in time," he said.
"We don’t know yet if we have it or not and baka mabulaga nalang tayo na by January mag surge na tayo (and we might be surprised that by January we might experience a surge in cases). That is something that we don’t like to happen, especially for us the healthcare workers, pagod na talaga kami (we are already tired)--- and (if) we will have this surge again--- we don't know what will happen to us," he added.