Galvez says good info drive needed to raise public's awareness on COVID-19 vaccine

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Friday underscored the importance of a good information drive to educate the public about the COVID-19 vaccination drive.

In a television interview, Galvez was asked for his reaction on the result of a Social Weather Station (SWS) survey showing 66% of Filipinos expressed willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19 while 31% said they are unwilling.

"Kailangan po talaga na magkaroon tayo ng magandang information drive. Gagamitin po natin ang mechanism ng LGU at saka 'yung platform ng private corporations para po maging aware ang tao," Galvez told CNN Philippines.

"Ang nakita ko po ang diperensya sa Dengvaxia, 'yung mga ano po natin vaccine expert panel nakausap ko rin po, ang pagkukulang po nila 'yung information, education at communication sa tao," he added.

Galvez, also the chief implementer of the government's response against COVID-19, said various local government units have been expressing their intention to be prioritized in the vaccination.

Galvez has bared that the national government is eyeing to secure COVID-19 vaccine supply deals from manufacturers in China, United Kingdom and the United States within the month.

He said the Philippines plans to purchase an initial 50 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for at least 25 million Filipinos by next year. The poor and vulnerable ones, security forces, government frontline workers and healthcare workers will be prioritized.

Galvez reiterated that a Russian-developed COVID-19 vaccine could be accessible by the first quarter of 2021. 

"Based po sa timeline natin, nag-announce na po 'yung ambassador ng Russia, kung makukuha po natin 'yung sa Gamaleya at kung maging successful 'yung kaniyang clinical trial, we can have first quarter," he said.

"'Yung isa po na tinitingnan namin ay sa second quarter po. Ang COVAX facility, ito po 'yung tinatawag na trial ng World Health Organization, puwede po tayo July and 'yung isa namin sa US, magiging ano po sila, more or less June, July," he added. —KBK, GMA News