Gatchalian volunteers to be vaccinated to enhance PH vaccination program

Senator Win Gatchalian has volunteered to be vaccinated with jabs of CoronaVac, manufactured by Beijing-based biopharmaceutical company Sinovac, if allowed under the government's prioritization framework for the nationwide immunization campaign to combat the coronavirus.

"Alam ko may prioritization tayo ngayon. Kung hindi naman lalabag dito, I would volunteer to be vaccinated by Sinovac. This is to show to the public our support to the vaccination program," Gatchalian said.

The senator said he sent word to the National Policy Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. over the weekend of his willingness to participate in the national vaccination program to help address the high vaccine hesitancy in the country.

This is also to disprove the notion that some politicians want to be vaccinated with the brand of their choice and with an efficacy rate higher than CoronaVac, Gatchalian said.

"What's more important to me is the seal of approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If it's approved by the FDA, which went through tedious analysis prior to the grant of authorization for emergency use, I'm okay with it. I'm okay with any brand of anti-COVID-19 vaccine. I'm not brand conscious. I put my trust in the FDA," the senator said.

The FDA earlier recommended against the use of CoronaVac on health workers as its efficacy rate stands at 50.4%, which makes it not the best vaccine to be given to medical frontliners who are exposed to COVID-19 patients. Senior citizens were not also advised by the FDA to use the said vaccine.

Prior to Monday's immunization drive, a survey conducted from January 26 to February 1, 2021 by the Octa Research Group showed that only 19 percent of Filipinos are willing to have themselves vaccinated while 46 percent would not want to be inoculated and 35 percent are still undecided.

Gatchalian, however, expressed optimism saying that the coming days will likely show a significant increase in the number of recipients of CoronaVac.

"Maraming hesitant dahil bago itong vaccine. Kaya importante dito ang confidence building na dapat pangunahan ng mga opisyal ng gobyerno, well-known personalities, at kahit mga elected officials kagaya ng ginawa ni Indonesian President Joko Widodo at Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam," he said.

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Gatchalian nagboboluntaryong mabakunahan kontra COVID-19

Kung mamarapatin sa ilalim ng prioritization framework ng gobyerno para sa pangkalahatang pagbabakuna laban sa coronavirus, nagboboluntaryo si Senador Win Gatchalian na mabakunahan ng CoronaVac na gawa ng kumpanyang Sinovac na base sa Beijing.

"Alam ko may prioritization tayo ngayon. Kung hindi naman lalabag dito, nagboboluntaryo akong mabakunahan ng Sinovac. Ito ay para ipakita sa publiko ang ating suporta sa isinasagawang vaccination program," ani Gatchalian.

Sinabi pa ni Gatchalian na bago pa sinimulan ang vaccination program nitong Lunes ay naiparating na nya mismo kay National Policy Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. ang kagustuhan nyang maging bahagi nito para na rin mabawasan ang pag-aalinlangan ng mga ayaw magpabakuna.

Ito rin ay para pabulaanan ang mga haka-haka na may mga politikong gustong gumamit ng mas kilalang brand at may efficacy rate na mas mataas sa CoronaVac, ani Gatchalian.

"Ang mas importante para sa akin ay ang seal of approval ng Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Kung ito'y aprubado ng FDA, makasisiguro tayo na ito'y dumaan sa masusing pag-aanalisa nila bago nila binigyan ng authorization for emergency use. So, okay na sa akin ang ganun. Okay ako kahit anong brand ng anti-COVID-19vaccine. Hindi ako brand conscious. NagtitiwaIa ako sa FDA," paliwanag ng senador.

Naunang napaulat na hindi nirerekomenda ng FDA ang paggamit ng CoronVac sa mga health workers dahil ang efficacy rate nito sa mga medical frontliners ay aabot lamang sa 50.4 porsyento samantalang aabot sa 64 porsyento hanggang 91 porsyento naman ang efficacy rate sa mga taong may malusog na pangangatawan at nasa edad na 18 hanggang 59. Nauna na ring sinabi ng FDA na hindi ito rekomendado sa mga ssnior citizens.

Bago sinimulan noong Lunes ang immunization drive, lumabas sa survey na isinagawa ng Octa Research Group noong Enero 26 hanggang Pebrero 1, 2021 na nasa 19 porsyento lamang ng mga Pilipino ang payag magpabakuna samantalang 46 porsyento ang di sang-ayon, at 35 poryento ang wala pang pasya sa bagay na ito.

Ngunit naniniwala si Gatchalian na madadagdagan sa mga darating na araw ang bilang ng mga tatanggap ng bakunang CoronaVac.

"Maraming hesitant kasi bago itong vaccine. Kaya importante dito ang confidence building na dapat pangunahan ng mga opisyal ng gobyerno, well-known personalities at kahit na elected officials kagaya ng ginawa ni Indonesian President Joko Widodo at Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam," ang sabi pa ng senador.

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