Retailers express support to governmnet vaccination drive

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s group of retailers is backing the government’s call to the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to help revive the economy and restore jobs.

Philippine Retailers Association president Rosemarie Ong said the group is urging citizens to do their part to get inoculated against the virus.

“Our efforts to rebuild our economy and the livelihood of our people depend on our people having the confidence to live in the new normal knowing that they are safe and secure,” she said.

She said the sooner the country achieves herd immunity or has at least 70 percent of its population vaccinated, the faster it would be to return to normalcy.

“Let not our fears of the unknown cripple us into inaction. Our retail industry frontliners have long been equally exposed to the virus but they have continued to serve the public. The vaccine will give us all a sense of strength that we now have a fighting chance to survive the pandemic and look to a more positive and hopeful future,” she said.

Amid vaccine hesitancy, both the government and the private sector are coming up with ways to boost confidence in the COVID-19 jabs.

There is a proposal to have President Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo featured in an infomercial to encourage citizens to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Earlier this year, the private sector launched a vaccine information and education campaign.

On the proposed use of vaccine passes to serve as proof of inoculation for individuals entering establishments, Ong said its implementation would be premature with the country still rolling out the vaccination program.

“I think it’s premature to impose this and this is discriminatory especially for those who were not yet vaccinated either due to lack of supply or access,” she said.

PRA – which is the national organization of retailers, shopping centers and suppliers – has over 400 members.