Trust National COVID-19 Vaccine Roadmap -- Bong Go encourages public to get vaccinated; assures that vaccines went through rigorous safety and efficacy evaluation process

In line with efforts to allay fears and build public confidence in the National COVID-19 Vaccine Roadmap, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go encouraged Filipinos to get vaccinated, assuring them that these vaccines went through a rigorous evaluation process to ascertain their safety and efficacy.

"Magtiwala kayo sa bakuna. 'Wag kayong matakot sa bakuna, matakot kayo sa COVID-19. Ang bakuna po ang papatay sa COVID-19. Kung walang bakuna, mahirapan tayong malagpasan ang pandemyang ito," Go said in an ambush interview after his visit and distribution of assistance to market vendors, persons with disabilities, fisherfolks and fire victims in Dumaguete City on Thursday, March 11.

"Tanging bakuna lang ang susi natin para unti-unting makabalik sa normal nating pamumuhay. Magtiwala po tayo sa gobyerno, dumaan po 'yan sa lahat ng proseso," he added.

Go said that the Food and Drug Administration and vaccine regulators in other countries have all conducted their evaluation of the vaccines to certify their safety and efficacy.

"Dumaan din po 'yan sa FDA, dumaan din po 'yan sa FDA ng ibang bansa. Lahat po ng pagsusuri ay ginawa na po d'yan, pero wala naman pong perpektong bakuna pero 'yan lang po ang ating susi para makabalik na po tayo sa normal nating pamumuhay," he said.

Earlier, Go said the same thing about the deployment of Sinovac vaccines, assuring the public that the jabs went through the complete evaluation process to assure their safety and efficacy. He also said that the immediate vaccine rollout has encouraged more Filipinos to get vaccinated.

"We started the roll-out immediately dahil matagal na po nag-aantay, naiinip na po ang taumbayan dito sa pag-uumpisa ng pagbabakuna. Noong unang panahon po, tinatanong ko po (kung sino ang gustong magpabakuna), less than 10% ang nagtataas ng kamay. Ngayon po, marami na po ang gustong magpabakuna," he said.

Meanwhile, Go reiterated during the interview that he and President Rodrigo Duterte are willing to be inoculated in public to demonstrate the vaccines' safety and efficacy.

"Magtiwala kayo. Kami ni Pangulong Duterte, willing kaming ipakita sa publiko. Kapag pinayagan na po s'ya ng doktor n'ya (at) napili na po ang bakuna," he shared.

"Willing kami not because prayoridad kami but because para ipakita sa publiko na dapat magtiwala tayo sa bakuna. Bakuna lang po ang susi para makabalik na tayo sa normal natin na pamumuhay," he added.