Bong Go reiterates appeal for expanded vaccine rollout, provision of incentives to raise vaccine confidence and reach population protection fast

Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Christopher "Bong" Go reiterated his appeal to the government to study the possibility of expanding the rollout of the vaccination program to the wider population to further expedite efforts to protect the population from COVID-19.

"Yung mga nais nang magpabakuna, huwag nating pabayaan at pag-intayin pa dahil baka maunahan pa ng COVID-19 ang pagbabakuna nila. Pabilisin na natin ang rollout para mas maraming Pilipino ang maproteksyunan. Tutal, tuluy-tuloy naman ang pagdating ng mga bakuna sa bansa. Balansehin natin ang lahat," appealed Go.

In a letter addressed to the National Task Force on COVID-19, the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, led by Quirino Governor and ULAP President Dakila Cua, recognized the "considerable" progress made by the government towards attaining population protection but likewise noted the "crucial" need to ramp up the country's vaccination efforts.

To hasten the inoculation of the population, ULAP recommended that local government units be allowed to extend the vaccines to their constituents without being limited by the prioritization scheme while maintaining the prioritization of selected groups to reduce morbidity and mortality and protect those who bear significant risks.

Go expressed support for ULAP's request and further appealed for increased awareness campaigns and the provision of incentives to fully vaccinated individuals to address vaccine hesitancy, especially in far-flung and underserved communities.

"Umaapela ako sa ating gobyerno na pag-aralan na ang posibilidad na palawakin lalo ang ating vaccination roll-out sa mas maraming Pilipino bukod pa sa mga kabilang na sa eligible priority groups. Hangga't kaya ng supply ng ating mga bakuna, baka maaaring buksan na ang rollout sa publiko," continued Go.

In an interview given on Saturday, September 4, Go backed the proposal to create vaccine bubbles, explaining that lessening restrictions to those fully immunized will address hesitations of others on the vaccination program.

"I agree sa pag-uusapang--kung maging legal sana ito--magawan ng paraan 'yung 'vaccine bubble' ... bigyan (natin) ng insentibo 'yung mga kababayan natin na 'pag bakunado, maging mas maluwag ang restrictions sa kanila para maengganyo ('yung iba) na magpabakuna rin," said Go.

Go recommended that the government and private sector come up with creative approaches that can encourage the vaccine hesitant Filipinos to get vaccinated while raising the communities' sense of trust in the vaccination program.

"Maaaring pwede na silang kumain at pumasyal sa labas, makatrabaho, at makagalaw nang wala masyadong restrictions para rin po ma-enganyo at tumaas ang vaccine confidence. 'Yung mga pribadong sektor may sarili ring mga inisyatibo tulad ng pagbibigay ng discounts. Welcome ang lahat ng ito," continued Go.

The Senator pointed out that the more people are vaccinated, the faster the country can achieve population protection and, subsequently, herd immunity and transition back to normalcy.

"Kung patuloy na bababa ang bilang ng magkakasakit at tataas naman ang bilang ng bakunado, mas mabilis pa nating maibabangon ang ating ekonomiya at mas makakabalik na tayo sa normal na pamumuhay pagdating ng panahon," stated Go.

"Kung i-expand na natin ang rollout sa publiko, dapat na walang prejudice naman ito sa kabilang sa mga naunang priority groups. Pero kung merong ayaw magpabakuna na kabilang sa mga nasa priority list ngayon, ibigay na natin sa may gusto dahil habulan po ito," he emphasized.

Go added that teachers, social workers and others in the workforce should be accommodated in the vaccine rollout as soon as supplies are sufficient in their communities. He explained that certain sectors cannot begin the process of recovery and return to normalcy until they too have received the vaccines.

"Alalahanin natin na bukod sa mga nasa A1 to A5 priority groups, mayroon pang groups B to C ayon sa ating vaccination program guidelines. Kasama pa rito ang ... iba pang mga manggagawa na hindi kasama sa essential sectors," noted Go.

"Paano tayo makapaghanda sa pagbabalik ng face-to-face classes pagdating ng panahon kung ang ating mga guro ay hindi naman bakunado? Paano naman makakabalik sa kanilang trabaho ang ibang mga OFWs natin na naghahanda pa para sa kanilang deployment at hindi pa pasok sa four-month period? Paano naman ang ibang mga trabahante na patuloy na kumakayod para tumulong na maiahon ang ekonomiya at kanilang pamilya?" he asked.

The country has currently obtained nearly 53 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Out of these, about 35.1 million doses have been administered as of September 3. More than 20.4 million Filipinos have received their first dose while another 14.7 million are fully immunized. Almost 120 million more doses are expected to arrive in the coming months.