Go renews call to Filipinos to get vaccinated, observe health protocols

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his appeal to the public to get vaccinated immediately if eligible and continue complying with public health protocols amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

“I appeal to concerned authorities to speed up the vaccination of all eligible sectors, especially the poorest of the poor so they can have protection and we can return to our normal lives once we achieve herd immunity,” Go, who chairs the Senate health committee, said in Filipino.

He said despite the rise in COVID-19 cases, data shows that vaccines work by preventing severe symptoms and death and urged unvaccinated individuals to take the opportunity to protect themselves before it is too late.

“To those who are not yet vaccinated but are qualified, don’t hesitate and get yourselves vaccinated because you’re more at risk unvaccinated. That’s the truth and these (vaccines) are free,” he said, noting that most of the severe cases of COVID-19 are those who are not vaccinated.

He stressed the fight against the pandemic is the responsibility of all, not just the government so each Filipino must do his or her part to help the nation recover from the crisis.

The senator stressed that vaccines, “coupled with discipline and faithful observance of health protocols are still the best line of defense against the virus.”

He noted that as of Jan. 5, the government has administered nearly 110.9 million doses of vaccines. Some 51.1 million individuals are fully vaccinated while 57.3 million have received their first dose.

In addition, 2.5 million have obtained their booster shots.

In his Talk to the People address on Thursday, President Duterte maintained that all unvaccinated individuals should be restricted in their movement.

Duterte directed barangay captains to help regulate their mobility by ensuring they remain in their residences, in addition to imposing prohibitions on certain activities.

He also appealed for volunteer doctors and nurses. He instructed concerned government agencies to augment the country’s health workforce in the light of possible staff shortage and to increase the number of quarantine and isolation facilities.