House Health Panel Chief urges DOH to intensify info drive on COVID-19 vaccination program

House Committee on Health Chair Angelina “Helen” Tan is urging the Department of Health (DOH) to intensify its information dissemination campaign on the government’s National Vaccination Program to boost public confidence on the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Since day one, I think naging maayos po ‘yung pag roll-out ng ating National Vaccination Program. Maganda ‘yung proseso. Siguro lang, nabigyan ko na rin naman ng diin ito sa DOH, na paigtingin pa nila ‘yung pagpapaliwanag sa ibaba katulong ang local government units,” Tan said at the weekly “Ugnayan sa Batasan” news forum.

Tan said the DOH should strengthen its information dissemination efforts on the vaccination program “while we still have time” given the limited supply of vaccines.

“‘Yun ‘yung pinaka challenging at this time, kung papaano natin mako-convince ang ating mga kababayan na makiisa doon sa programa ng vaccination kasi baka pag dumating na ‘yung bakuna sa probinsya e very few ‘yung takers at ‘yung target natin to develop herd immunity through vaccination baka hindi natin ma-achieve kung mangyari iyon,” Tan warned.

Tan, a medical doctor by profession, received the first dose of the China-made CoronaVac vaccine at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center as part of her eldest son’s allocation for the family as a surgeon at the state-owned hospital.

During the media forum, Tan said she understands the apprehensions of some health care workers on the Chinese vaccine because of the recommendations of the Food and Drug Association (FDA). However, she also encourages them to read on the studies and published data on CoronaVac.

“Personally, ini-encourage ko ang ating mga health care workers na instead na parang laging nagwo-worry sila na everyday papasok sa trabaho na wala man lamang kahit isang proteksyon—although we do use PPEs (personal protective equipment)—but at least ‘yung panlaban sa katawan meron. Now na may available at binibigay, baka pwedeng ma-consider nila,” Tan said.

The lady lawmaker from Quezon province emphasized that vaccination is voluntary and that health workers will not be forced to be inoculated. “Pag sinabi nilang ‘no’ and they are willing to wait, ginagalang naman iyon.”

She likewise urged the barangay health workers to grab the opportunity to be vaccinated once vaccines are available since they do not have a direct contact with COVID patients.

In the same forum, Deputy Speaker and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante said he agrees with the decision of not including “influencers” in the list of priorities to be given vaccines in the government’s vaccination program.

If the objective is to increase confidence in the vaccines, Abante said the medical personnel given the vaccines send the strongest signals possible to the public.

“Kung doctor mismo walang duda sa vaccine, bakit po tayo magdududa?”Abante pointed out.

He also made an appeal that the government provide senior citizens with COVID-19 vaccines when other life-saving shots arrived. “Kasama naman ang seniors sa priority groups, at napaka-vulnerable nila sa COVID-19,” Abante said.

“With the government easing restrictions on travel and opening up the economy, our senior citizens need all the protection that they can get,” Abante said.