A newly-"boosted" Leyte 4th district Rep. Richard Gomez says it's time for health authorities to facilitate a second booster shot for the general population against the dreaded Covid-19.
"Oh yes . Yes in fact...even if sabihin ng Department of Health (DOH) na wala pa, I know that a lot of people from this sector sa general public, nagpapa-booster shots sila eh (they are getting their booster shots)," Gomez told CNN Philippines' The Source on Monday, July 18.
The DOH is still not allowing second booster shots for the general population in the Philippines. Covid-19 vaccines--both the primary series and the extra jabs or booster shots--are given to Filipinos by the government.
Only senior citizens, immunocompromised individuals, and health workers are given second booster shots by the state.
Gomez, in the same interview, bared that he had just received his first booster shot last week.
"It was just last week na nabigyan ako ng (that I was given my) booster," said the former two-term Ormoc City mayor, who in July 2021 was stricken with Covid-19.
"Despite first shot tinamaan pa rin ako ng (I was still stricken with] Covid-19 and it was very difficult. I don't want this to be experienced by people...Get the booster as soon as possible," he said.
Regarding the possibility of having a not one but two booster shots, Gomez said some enterprising Filipinos are already getting multiple boosters on their own.
"In fact there are people who would travel to different countries, magbo-booster shot sila (They will get booster shots). I know some people, naka-limang shots na nga sila (they've already received five shots)...I don't know how safe it is pero it's really up to them, it's their choice," he said.
Gomez, a popular movie actor, says Ormoc has a high number of boosted individuals.