The Department of Health (DOH) urged eligible Filipinos to get vaccinated and boosted during the "Bakunahang Bayan" vaccination drive that will start on Monday, Dec. 5, until Wednesday, Dec. 7.
DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that one of the ways to protect yourself against Covid-19 is through vaccination.
"Ito pong Bakunahang Bayan na ito atin pong pupuntahan sa bahay bahay ang atin pong mga nakakatanda, yun pong mga may comorbidities, yun pong mga hindi pa bakunado, yun atin pong mga kabataan na five to 11 years old (For this Bakunahang Bayan, we are going house-to-house to reach our elderlies, those with comorbidities, those who have not been vaccinated, and children aged five to 11)," said Vergeire in a recent press briefing.
"Aside from going house to house, we have set up different vaccination sites sa iba’t ibang lugar sating bansa, sa mga palengke, sa malls, sa mga eskwelehan, sa mga big malls natin, establishment, sa mga simbahan at sa iba pang public places (in various places in the country, in markets, malls, schools, establishments, churches and in other public places)," she added.
Infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante said that the current vaccines are still effective against new variants of coronavirus.
“Itong mga current na bakuna ang tawag diyan ay monovalent, meron pa rin siyang bisa talaga na maprevent niya yung severe na Covid (These current vaccines called monovalent, they are still effective to prevent severe Covid),” he said during a radio interview on Sunday, Dec. 4.
Vaccination is important, especially for the vulnerable population, as gatherings are expected to happen during this holiday season, said Solante.
“Sa bawat kababayan natin, isipin natin hindi lamang ang ating mga sarili pati na rin ang ating mga mahal sa buhay, magpabakuna na po tayo (To our citizens, let's think not only of ourselves but also of our loved ones, let's get vaccinated),” said Vergeire.
As of Nov. 20, almost 73.7 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated. About 20.9 million individuals have received their first booster shot and around 3.5 million people have received their second booster dose, the DOH said.