Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III stated that he is ready to receive the initial vaccine shot against Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Following the challenge of Senator Bong Go for DOH Sec. Duque and Vaccine Czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. to receive the vaccine first to prove that it is effective and to encourage the public to get vaccinated, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire disclosed that “the secretary is open to that. So ito naman po ay mga bakuna kapag pumasa na sa phase 3 trial, ibig sabihin, ang bakuna ay ligtas at’yung efficacy niyan ay na-test na po. (The secretary is open to that. So once this vaccine passes phase 3 trial, it means that it is safe and its efficacy has been tested.)”
USec. Vergeire also pointed out that despite the vaccines being approved in other countries, they will still have to undergo evaluation by the vaccine experts panel and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) once they arrive in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the DOH disclosed that it is talking with local government units (LGUs) for a collaboration in spreading correct information regarding the vaccine. The health department assured that the benefits of the vaccine and its possible effects will be clearly disseminated in the communities.
“We are preparing for this. We know that there are a lot of those antivaxxers at nagpapalabas na po tayo unti-unti ng ating mga impormasyon and atin pong natapos na rin ang ating communication plan para maumpisahan na po ang pagbibigay ng information. (We are preparing for this. We know that there are a lot of those antivaxxers and we are gradually releasing information [about vaccines] and we have already finished our communication plan to start the information dissemination.)” – Report from Mark Fetalco
