A top health expert has reiterated the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 during the recently-concluded VHealthy webinar series of the Villar Group.

Fr. Nicanor Austriaco, a UST professor and a microbiologist, explained how vaccines could help a person to develop anti-bodies that destroy the COVID-19 virus.

“We are building a COVID-proof wall around the NCR Plus Eight to prevent entry of future variants of the virus,” he said during the virtual seminar.

As concerns were raised over the Delta variant, Austriaco also allayed the fears of some employees who expressed concerned on the adverse effects of the vaccines.

“The side effects are a sign that the vaccine is working to jump-start your immune response. They will pass after 24 to 48 hours,” he added.

Noting how the virus had affected various businesses, Austriaco underscored the need to administer vaccines on essential workers, which the Villar Group has been doing in the past few months while the government adjusts the quarantine classifications in Metro Manila and other provinces.

“You should get vaccinated to protect yourself and to protect those around you, especially your families and those who are old and vulnerable,” he added.

“We will need 70 percent of the population to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity for COVID-19,” Austriaco added.

Austriaco stressed that the majority of the Filipinos should get vaccinated to protect the population. “We must protect the Filipino people from new variants of COVID-19, especially the Delta B1.617 Indian variant,” he added.

Since the National Capital Region is a major business hub, he said it should be protected to “protect the rest of the country.” “Herd immunity will end the pandemic,” Austriaco said.

The Villar Group has ordered Moderna and Oxford-Astra Zeneca for the vaccination of its workforce, which started a few months ago.

Chairman Manny Villar noted how important it is for the work force to be protected because a healthy workforce also paves way to the protection of everyone. When the workers are protected, they will also boost the confidence of the group’s clientele, especially in the retail, food, housing, and commercial businesses.

“Ensuring the health and safety of our employees is our top priority. The vaccine will not only help build immunity from the virus, but will also help boost consumer confidence to go out again,” Villar said.

“Hence, the vaccine will not only save lives but jobs and businesses, as well. It is by helping each other during this time that we can start our journey to economic recovery,” he added.

Manuel Paolo Villar, President and CEO of Vista Land and Lifescapes, Inc., said the Group is “committed to inform and to engage our employees on the benefits of the vaccine, and to create a healthy and safe workplace for them and our clients.”

VHealthy is Villar Group’s vaccination program which includes the conduct of massive information campaign through series of webinars that tackle safety protocols and the importance of getting inoculated, with resource speakers from relevant organization and other health experts.

Featured image from Pexels