The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has urged Overseas Filipinos Workers (OFWs) to benefit from the free Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in the Middle East, United States of America, and the United Kingdom.
“We are encouraging you po na magpa-vaccinate dahil naniniwala tayo na no one is safe until everyone is safe. Iyon po ang pinakiusap sa atin ng high government officials. (We are encouraging you to get vaccinated because we believe that no one is safe until everyone is safe. That is the request of the high government officials).”
According to DFA Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola, the DFA has repatriated around 342,000 OFWs. But the number of OFWs choosing to stay in their country of destination is increasing due to mass vaccination.
USec. Arriola shared that the Middle East has already ordered vaccines in June. Its economy is expected to open early. The countries in the Middle East are hoping to achieve herd immunity before Ramadan in April. – Report from Naomi Tiburcio
