Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Wednesday, February 24, assured the public that the government is fast tracking the process of acquiring vaccines against COVID-19.
During Go’s visit in Parola, Tondo, Manila where he personally led the distribution of assistance to 361 victims of a fire incident in the area, he said in an interview that President Rodrigo Duterte is constantly urging concerned officials to do everything necessary to expedite the vaccine rollout.
“Alam n’yo, halos araw-araw po naming pinag-uusapan ni Pangulong Duterte. Halos araw-araw rin naming kinukulit ang ating mga opisyales, Vaccine Czar natin (si Sec. Galvez), Sec. Duque, at lahat ng mga opisyales na bilisan na po ‘yung proseso,” Go shared.
“Itong FDA natin naninigurado lang din po sila. Gusto nila ng safety data dahil inuuna natin po ‘yung safety at efficacy nitong vaccine… Pero sa totoo lang po, ako po’y nananawagan na bilisan na po lahat,” he added.
“Nasa gobyerno tayo, kung maaari po 24 hours tayong magtrabaho para po dumating na ‘yung bakuna, maaprubahan na ‘yung bakuna, at siguraduhin po na safe at epektibo itong bakuna dahil iyon lang po ang tanging solusyon. Wala na pong ibang solusyon dito sa problemang ito, sa krisis na ito — tanging bakuna lamang po ang solusyon,” he further stressed.
Go also said that the Philippines is encountering challenges acquiring sufficient vaccines given limited global supply and with some developed countries getting the biggest chunk of the doses produced so far.
“Mismo si UN (United Nations) Secretary-General si (António) Guterres po mismo ang nagsabi na hindi po equal dahil, unfortunately, medyo mahirap po ang ating bayan, hindi po tayo nakasama doon sa malalaking mga bansa na nabibigyan na po ng mga bakuna. Pero ginagawa naman po ng gobyerno ang lahat para mapabilis,” Go said.
“Still, I’m urging government po, as a legislator, I’m urging government, bilisan na po natin. Huwag kayong papatay-patay po,” he added.
Go, however, said that the COVAX has already committed 117,000 Pfizer vaccines and 5.5 million doses from AstraZeneca to the Philippines. COVAX, or the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, is a global initiative led by the World Health Organization, among other institutions, to ensure equitable access to vaccines, especially for poor and developing countries.
“Alam n’yo ang COVAX po, nangako sa atin na may darating na 117,000 na Pfizer at saka AstraZeneca na 5.5 million. Ngayon, marami po silang hinihingi sa ating gobyerno tulad nung Indemnification clause, naninigurado sila dahil takot din sila balikan,” Go shared.
The Senate on Tuesday, February 23, passed on final reading Senate Bill No. 2057, which includes the provision for the indemnification fund, among others. The House of Representatives adopted the Senate version of the measure and passed the bill on the same day.
Sponsored by Senate Committee on Finance Chair Sonny Angara and also co-sponsored by Go, SB 2057 aims to hasten the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines. It also allows empowers local government units to procure vaccines and make advance payments subject to existing laws, and to establish an indemnification fund to cover the possible expenses and claims arising from adverse effects of the vaccines.
Despite the challenges encountered, Go said he takes it as an opportunity for the Philippines to identify the best vaccines against the virus by observing those countries that have already began their rollouts.
“‘Di naman siguro nagkulang ang gobyerno, ‘di nagkulang ang mga mambabatas. Marahil kung mas nauna sila, makikita natin ang epekto ng vaccine na ginamit nila, mas mapag-aaralan nating mabuti,” Go said.
Asked on which vaccine he prefers to be inoculated with, Go said that as long as the vaccine is certified safe and effective, there should be no problem.
“Ako po, wala akong preference. Kung ano po ang epektibo at safe na bakuna, ipakita natin sa publiko,” he said.
Go also emphasized that authorities, with the help of health experts, must intensify their information and education campaign on the COVID-19 vaccination program being implemented by the government to allay fears and boost public confidence.
“Magtiwala tayo sa mga eksperto at mga opisyal natin sa FDA dahil siguradong maingat at mabusisi ang lahat ng kanilang mga pag-aaral at rekomendasyon kung anong bakuna ang mas nararapat para sa partikular na sektor ayon sa ating vaccination priority list,” Go said previously.
“Gayunpaman, hinihimok ko rin ang ating mga eksperto at mga otoridad na linawin ang mga desisyong ginagawa ukol sa National Vaccination Roadmap. Bigyan natin ng tamang impormasyon ang ating mga kababayan para hindi sila matakot o mag-alinlangan na magpabakuna,” he added.
