Duque urges Eleksyon 2022 candidates to campaign gov’t COVID-19 vax drive

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday called on the candidates for the 2022 elections to help campaign the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program to encourage more people to have their primary vaccine series and booster shots taken.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, Duque explained the upcoming May 9 polls would not be a hindrance in the country’s vaccination drive as the candidates could utilize it while they are on campaign trail.

“Nakikiusap nga ako sa mga nangangampanya, ‘yung mga politiko, na ikampanya na nila sa kanilang mamamayan, kanilang mga lalawigan, bayan, siyudad, at bara-barangay ang pagbabakuna,” he said.

(I am asking those who are campaigning, the politicians to encourage their consitutuents to get vaccinated or take a booster shot.)

“Malalapit pa sila sa mga puso ng mga tao kasi alam ng taumbayan na talagang binibigyang prayoridad ang kanilang kalusugan. Ang bakuna libre, e di ayan ang pinakamagandang pamamaraan para ikampanya itong ating national vaccination program,” he added.

(This would get them even closer to the hearts of the people because they would know that their health is really given priority. The vaccine is free, so that's the best way to campaign for our national vaccination program.)

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday ordered for a house-to-house COVID-19 vaccination program, particularly in the countryside, amid the expected expiration of millions of vaccine doses in the next few months.

About 27 million shots acquired by the government are expiring in July if remained unused, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose “Joey” Concepcion III earlier reported.

Based on DOH’s latest data, at least  66.2 million Filipinos or about 74% of the government’s 90 million target population are already fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Meanwhile, some 12.2 million individuals have taken their booster shots.

“Kaya babaguhin natin ang definition na kailangan talaga kasi kapag fully vaccinated, akala ng mga kababayan natin, tama na,” Duque said, pertaining to the call to redefine the term “fully vaccinated” to include administration of booster shots.

(We will change the definition because people think that it is enough to get the primary series to be considered fully vaccinated.)

The Health chief noted the Technical Working Group (TWG) and experts are set to discuss on Wednesday whether a booster dose should be added as a requirement for an individual to be considered as fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

This will then be presented to the next Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) meeting.

“Ngayong araw pag-uusapan ‘yan ng Technical Working Group. Akin ngang inatasan na pag-aralan ito at tignan kung pwedeng bigyan ng definition ‘yung fully vaccinated na kasama ‘yung isang booster,” he said.

(Today, the Technical Working Group will discuss that. I ordered them to study it and see if it is possible to redefine fully vaccinated to include a booster shot.)

Asked if the TWG could decide within the day, Duque said, “Oh yes, magbibigay ‘yan ng recommendation.”

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said earlier that instead of redefining the term “fully vaccinated,” the DOH is seeking to add the term “up to date” for individuals who have received their booster shots.—AOL, GMA News