Bong Go welcomes expansion of national vaccination program to the general public; urges authorities to further fast-track rollout to protect population towards gradual return to normalcy

Senator Christopher "Bong"Go has commended President Rodrigo Duterte for approving the recommendation to expand the national vaccination program to the general population beginning in October in accordance with the vaccination guidelines determined by health experts.

"Kinokomendahan ko po ang desisyon ng Pangulo na buksan na ang pagbabakuna para sa general population," said Go.

"Susi po ito upang mabilis nating makamit ang inaasam nating population protection at herd immunity para maging mas masaya ang ating Pasko ngayong taon at dahan-dahan tayong makabalik sa normal na pamumuhay," he added.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Duterte ordered the vaccination of the general public based on a recommendation from vaccine czar and chief implementer of the COVID-19 National Task force Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.

"Magsisimula na po ang pagbabakuna sa general population itong buwan ng Oktubre," Roque shared during a press briefing.

The Philippines has only vaccinated a select portion of the population based on the earlier approved priority list, such as medical frontliners, senior citizens, persons with comorbidities, essential workers, and indigents.

According to Go, the President has approved the immunization of the broader public as more supplies of vaccines enter the country.

"Bilang chair ng Senate Committee on Health, masaya akong ibalita na, as of September 27, 2021 ay meron nang 44.36 milyong doses ang naiturok na bakuna kontra COVID-19, na kung saan 23.77 milyong Pilipino ay naturukan na ng kanilang unang dose samantalang may dagdag na 20.58 milyong kababayan natin ang nakakumpleto na ng kanilang bakuna," Go shared.

"Inaaasahang tataas pa lalo ang bilang ng mga bakuna sa susunod na mga buwan kung kaya't bubuksan na rin ang ating vaccination program sa general population sa Oktubre upang mapabilis ang rollout at marating natin ang herd immunity sa lalong madaling panahon," he explained further.

While Roque did not specify an age bracket, Galvez previously suggested that 12 to 17 year olds be allowed to be inoculated against COVID-19 by the middle of October.

Earlier, Go appealed to the government to study the possibility of expanding the vaccination rollout to include the remaining members of the general public who are not presently eligible under the vaccination priority list.

Go emphasized that the more Filipinos get vaccinated, the faster the country can return to normalcy.

"At kung patuloy na bababa ang bilang ng nagkakasakit at tataas naman ang bilang ng bakunado, mas mabilis po nating maibabangon ang ating ekonomiya at mas makakabalik po tayo sa normal na pamumuhay pagdating ng panahon," he said.

Go also asked authorities to explore the possibility of providing incentives for fully vaccinated individuals in order to encourage others to overcome their hesitations.

"Pag-aralan rin po dapat nang mabuti ang pagbibigay ng insentibo sa mga bakunado tulad ng mas maluwag na mga patakaran. Maaaring pwede na sila kumain at pumasyal sa labas, makatrabaho, at makagalaw nang wala masyadong restrictions," he said.

"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 po ang lahat ng ito," he added.

Throughout the pandemic, Go successfully appealed for the inclusion of various groups in the vaccine priority group, such as athletes competing in the Tokyo Olympics, OFWs and Professional Regulation Commission personnel handling the licensure examinations.

"Tulad ng aking sinasabi noon, bakuna muna bago pulitika! Unahin nating malampasan ang pandemya para mabigyan ng tunay na pag-asa ang ating mga kababayan dahil kung hindi natin malalampasan ang krisis na ito, baka wala na tayong pulitikang pag-uusapan pa," Go reiterated.