Marcos renews call for Pinoys to get vaccinated vs. COVID-19

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday renewed his call for Filipinos who remain unprotected against COVID-19 to get vaccinated.

"Let this occasion serve as a call to every Filipino to continue doing your part, get updated on your COVID-19 vaccination, to prevent the resurgence as a means of honoring those who sacrificed their lives during the pandemic," Marcos said in his speech during the launching of the COVID-19 bivalent vaccination at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City.

"I thus appeal to everyone, especially those who have yet to receive their primary series of vaccinations, to get vaccinated against COVID-19. This is not for your own good alone but also for the protection of your families and the general public," he added.

Marcos said the public should not be complacent as the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet completely over. He said it could not be denied that COVID-19 vaccines have played an integral role in the fight against the coronavirus.

"That is why we institute programs like these which continue to seek to protect our vulnerable populace, our vulnerable sectors of our populace and that particular demographic in this case is that of the elderly," Marcos said.

"But rest assured, that with the use of science-based strategies and a whole of society approach, these risks will remain manageable," he added.

During the launching of the COVID-19 bivalent vaccination, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa received his bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, thus becoming the first recipient in the National Capital Region.

The Department of Health (DOH) has said bivalent vaccines provide protection against the original COVID-19 strain, SARS-CoV-2, and Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.

Lithuania donation

Meanwhile, Marcos also expressed gratitude to the government of Lithuania for its donation of more than 390,000 bivalent vaccines.

"I am hopeful that we will further deepen our cooperation in such areas, both our great nations, as well as sustain this bond of friendship that we have strengthened now," Marcos said.

"Rest assured that this government under this administration treasures that special relationship and your act of generosity today will certainly not go unnoticed or ever be forgotten," he added.

He also thanked the World Health Organization and the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access or the COVAX for its continued assistance to the Philippines amid the pandemic. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News