Sotto willing to receive COVID-19 shots in public

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday said he is willing to receive COVID-19 shots in public in support of the government's immunization program and information dissemination campaign against the disease.

In a statement, Sotto said the public needs to be assured that COVID-19 vaccines are efficient and safe, and government officials like him should allay public doubt by taking the lead themselves.

“Lead by example. Iyan ang gusto kong gawin," he said.

"Kung makikita ng ating mga kababayan na handa ang kanilang mga lider na magpabakuna sa kabila ng malawakang pagdududa kung ang mga bakuna ba ay epektibo o hindi, malamang ay ma-engganyo ang nakararami na makilahok sa vaccination program ng Malakanyang,” he added.

The Senate leader said government officials should step in and help convince the public to vaccinate against COVID-19, especially that the executive's vaccination information drive is a "failure."

“Hanggang ngayon ay punong-puno pa rin ng alinlangan ang ating mga kababayan kung epektibo nga ba ang mga binibiling bakuna ng Department of Health. Marami pa rin ang nagdadalawang-isip kung sila ba ay magpapabakuna o hindi," Sotto said.

A survey by OCTA Research last month showed that only one out of four respondents are willing to get themselves vaccinated against COVID-19 in Metro Manila, one of the hotbeds of the pandemic in the country.

The Philippines targets to inoculate 50 to 70 million individuals within the year, and an estimated 50,000 is expected to be vaccinated in February.

According to the government's vaccination roadmap, health workers and frontliners from select government offices will be the first to receive the vaccine, followed by indigent senior citizens, other senior citizens, and other indigents. —KBK, GMA News