Duterte-Robredo endorsement vital for immunization program —Recto

President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo should join hands in promoting the immunization program of the government amid  the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Thursday.

In a statement, the lawmaker pointed out that P7.5 billion has been allocated for the immunization program this year but only 2.8 million out of the target 12 million have been reached as of June.

"The need for high-profile endorsers is needed to arrest the plunge in vaccination levels," Recto said.

"Perhaps the President and the Vice President can do a joint PSA—a public service announcement—that will promote this life-saving program. It is a PSA that is a PDA—public display of affection for children and seniors," he added.

Recto stressed that prior to the pandemic, the immunization rates in the country was on a downward trend in previous years.

According to him, only one in seven children below one year old in the Philippines has received a full set of vaccines as of end March; and only three out of 10 school children have been vaccinated with catch-up and booster doses.

Recto underscored that this year's immunization program also targets to cover almost 1.3 million senior citizens for influenza and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines.

In April, the Department of Health released guidelines on immunization services amid COVID-19 threat and assured that its immunization program will continue. 

Meanwhile, Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go said the government must prepare a national immunization program for COVID-19 while waiting for a vaccine to become available in the market.

"Kapag dumating ang panahon na mayroon nang vaccine at gamot laban sa COVID-19, dapat handa tayo na mabigyan ang lahat ng Pilipinong nangangailangan nito, mahirap man o mayaman," Go, chair of the Senate committee on health, said in a separate statement.

"Magtabi na tayo ng budget para masigurong kakayanin ng gobyerno na matulungan ang mga mahihirap. Magkaroon po tayo ng plano kung saan dapat pantay-pantay at hindi lang ang mga may kaya sa buhay ang makakakuha," he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte said he would sell government assets and avail of loans, if needed, to secure COVID-19 vaccine for Filipinos. —LBG, GMA News