MMDA wants PBA cagers, influencers’ help in vaccine info drive

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos Jr. on Wednesday said the government might seek the help of Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) players, national athletes, and media influencers in educating the public about the COVID-19 vaccines.

“We really need media influencers if this is the case in some areas, athletes, for example, PBA players,” Abalos said in an ANC interview when asked about their plans to convice the public that the available COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective regardless of the brand.

He cited his personal experience and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno’s testimony, saying their antibodies have doubled after taking Sinovac's China-made COVID-19 vaccine.

“So we need media influencers to explain these things. I’ll raise this up, the PBA players the national athletes could really help here,” he added.

At least two senators have previously said the country’s top officials should lead the promotion and education of Filipinos about COVID-19 vaccines.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House, and even media personalities should go out and promote the vaccines.

Sen. Joel Villanueva made a similar suggestion last week, saying President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo should make an infomercial about COVID-19 vaccines together.

The government recently announced a brand agnostic policy, ordering the local government units not to announce to the public the specific COVID-19 vaccine brands that they will use. Those to be inoculated will, however, be informed of the brand of the vaccine up front or right before they are vaccinated.

The Department of Health came up with the decision after people thronged to vaccination sites in Parañaque and Manila earlier this week after learning that vaccines from their preferred brand, Pfizer, were available.

A recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll ha showed that 63% of Filipinos preferred to receive vaccines manufactured in the United States to protect themselves from the coronavirus disease. -Hana Bordey/MDM, GMA News