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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Don't announce COVID-19 vaccine brand in vaccination sites, DILG orders LGUs

Don't announce COVID-19 vaccine brand in vaccination sites, DILG orders LGUs

Published May 20, 2021 09:58 am

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) directed, Thursday, May 20, all local government units (LGUs) to refrain from announcing the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) brand that will be used in in vaccination centers as the country races against time to achieve herd immunity.

This, as thousands of residents would always flock at the vaccination centers once they hear that the vaccine that would be used is Pfizer-made or any other brand that are perceived as more effective compared to a particular brand that was first used by the government.

While the LGUs will not be allowed to announce the vaccine brand, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año clarified the individual scheduled for vaccination will still be informed of the vaccine brand on-site.

“The person will be informed of the brand in the vaccination center and he will have to give his informed consent but if he refuses, he will have to go back to the back of the line,” Año said.

The DILG chief also disputed arguments that the people must be made aware of the brand that would be inoculated on them, saying that doing so only exposes them to risks as they would flock in vaccination centers for vaccine brand that they would prefer.

“We need to educate the people in order to overcome brand preference. All FDA (Food and Drug Administration)-approved vaccines are just emergency use authorization (EUA). They are all similarly situated. Our health experts have repeatedly said that there is none that is more effective than the other. All of them prevent hospitalization or critical illness from COVID. That is what is important,” he added.

Año said that all vaccines’ have gone through a stringent approval process and are therefore safe and efficacious.

"The best vaccine is the one that is available," he said.

He also urged the public to support the government’s vaccination program insisting it’s their duty as citizens to protect themselves, their family and their country by being vaccinated.

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