Senator Joel Villanueva on Thursday, May 20, suggested that President Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo team up on a public service announcement to allay the apprehension of people on receiving COVID-19 vaccines.
Villanueva made the suggestion as he said that the brand agnostic policy to be enforced by the government will not be effective in encouraging vaccination among Filipinos.
"Vaccine agnosticism will not work without vaccine advocacy. We have to educate before we inoculate. Sadly much still needs to be done in this area," he said in a statement, following announcements from health officials that brands of vaccines will no longer be announced to public, and the people will only be asked to decide whether or not to receive the coronavirus jabs once their are on the vaccination sites.
The senator believed that country's "biggest problem" is not the people's rejection certain brands of COVID-19 vaccines, but the lack of awareness.
"There is only one vaccine against fake news and that is truth told in a convincing manner," he pointed out.
"Informed choice cannot be substituted with a 'take-it-or-leave-it' policy," he added.
Villanueva said that an advertisement featuring both the President and Vice President, who are of opposing political parties, would be effective in convincing Filipinos to get vaccinated and that the vaccine are safe.
"Ito po ang tambalang nakikita nating mabisa na pangontra sa mga fake news (This is an effective tandem to counter fake news). Both are vaccine recipients, and are living proof that vaccines do no harm," he said.
Duterte and Robredo have both received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccines.
Duterte got the vaccine from Sinopharm last May 3, while Robredo was administered the vaccine from AstraZeneca on Wednesday, May 19.
Administration ally Sen. Francis Tolentino, meanwhile, said the agnostic approach will be a "practical policy". According to him, "personal rights are trumped by the police powers of the State -- for public health reasons."