Abalos appeals vs. getting third COVID-19 jab amid tight vaccine supply

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos on Friday appealed to the public not to take a third dose or a "booster" shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, saying it could be a ground for a legal action.

In a video tweet posted by Super Radyo dzBB's Jhomer Apresto, Abalos noted that supply of COVID-19 vaccine in the country remains tight.

"Ang problema po natin, hindi pa ho stabilized ang ating supply. Talagang may kulang. Marami sa ating kababayan ni isang bakuna wala pa. Kaya as far as the government program is concerned, basta't ito'y prinocure ng gobyerno at COVAX facility, hanggang dalawang doses lang ang bawat isa," Abalos said.

(The problem is that our supply has not stabilized yet. It's still insufficient. A lot of Filipinos have not received even their first dose of vaccine. As far as the government's vaccination program is concerned, if this is procured by the government and if it is from COVAX facility, it should only be up to two doses.)

"Kung kayo'y magpapabakuna under the program of government at saka po rito, tinatanong kayo ng form kung ilan 'yan, at kung kayo'y magsisinungaling, that is falsification. Please lang, makonsensya naman kayo sa iba. 'Yun ang panawagan namin dito," he added.

(If you'll get vaccinated under the government's inoculation program, you will answer a certain form and if you lie, that's already falsification. We appeal to the public to also think of the welfare of other people.)

Abalos said reports of some individuals getting a third shot of COVID-19 vaccine would be investigated.

In June, vaccine experts advised the public against rushing to get a third dose or second platform of a COVID-19 vaccine, stressing the need for an equitable distribution.

Dr. Rontgene Solante of the Vaccine Expert Panel has said the focus should be on fully vaccinating as many people as soon as possible.

So far, a total of 12,282,006 or 17.19% of the country’s eligible target population have been fully vaccinated against the disease. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News