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Duque urges Acosta to get COVID-19 vaccine; DOJ tells her to comply with gov’t policy
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday appealed to Public Attorney's Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
A report by Raffy Time on "24 Oras" quoted Duque as saying Acosta must also support the government's immunization program against the virus.
"Palagay ko baka malapit na siya maging senior citizen, dapat mabigyan ng karagdagang proteksyon [I think since she is nearly a senior citizen and should receive extra protection]," said Duque.
"Para sa akin, dapat maging bukas ang pagiisip ni PAO Chief Acosta na suportahan niya ang bakuna dahil bilyon na ang mga taong nabakunahan at marami tayong nasalbang buhay dahil sa bakuna," he added.
(Acosta should be open-minded and support the COVID-19 vaccines. Billions of people have already been vaccinated and many lives have been saved because of them.)
Acosta had revealed that she has yet to get vaccinated against COVID-19, citing health reasons.
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In previous interviews, she said the "no vaccine, no ride" policy is unconstitutional.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he ordered Acosta to comply with existing policies for on-site work which states that unvaccinated personnel must undergo RT-PCR or antigen testing once every two weeks.
"I already advised PAO Chief Acosta to comply with existing government regulations regarding on-site work as it relates to unvaccinated personnel, and to ensure a COVID-safe working environment in her agency without sacrificing efficiency," Guevarra said.
"The IATF rule that personnel reporting for on-site work should be vaccinated; if unvaccinated but must report for on-site work, the requirement to at least undergo RT-PCR or antigen testing once every two weeks," he added.
The PAO is an attached agency of the DOJ.
In response, Acosta said she has yet to receive the DOJ's directive but that she will follow the testing requirement for on-site work. — Consuelo Marquez/BM, GMA News