Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr., the chief implementer of the national action plan versus Covid-19. (Source: Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process)
A strenuous information drive on Covid-19 vaccines is needed to address vaccine hesitancy among Filipinos, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. said on Monday.
In a televised address with President Rodrigo Duterte, Galvez said the public’s fears over Covid-19 vaccines were heightened by influential anti-vaxxers (people against vaccines) on social media.
“May problema po tayo na talagang dapat po pagtulungan po natin. Alam po namin na malaki po ang maitutulong ng [presidente], kasi po talagang bumababa po ‘yung willingness at saka ‘yung uptake ng ating mga kababayan dahil nga po sa mga tinatawag nating mga nakikitang mga adverse effect ng certain brands, at the same time, malakas po ‘yung ano, ‘yung social media ng mga anti-vaxxers,” he said.
Results of a Pulse Asia survey released earlier this month showed that only 47 percent of Filipinos were “not inclined” to get vaccinated for Covid-19.
Galvez said the government’s public information offices, with the help of some private organizations, would be in charge of vaccine information campaigns.
So ‘yon po ginagawa po namin every ano po every Monday, nag-uusap-usap po ang lahat ng mga ano, ng mga business sector para tulungan po tayo para maging — ma-improve po ‘yung public uptake po ng ating mga kababayan sa bakuna, at gagawa sila ng ‘Ingat Angat Bakuna Lahat’ para maging maganda po ang inoculation po natin sa buong bansa,” he added.
Malacañang earlier said vaccine hesitancy among Filipinos could have been fueled by the Dengvaxia controversy.
The Department of Health earlier said it would roll out a “massive” information drive before the country launches its national vaccination program in February.
Duterte tells critics of vaccine procurement: ‘Let’s talk’
Duterte said he wanted to engage those alleging the government of having a corrupt vaccine procurement method in conversation.
“Mayroong iba diyan because wala silang nakuha kay Galvez kay wala man talaga, walang pera, laway pa lang ito lahat, conversation, istorya, mayroon na nagsasabi may corruption o na they were able to obstruct or prevent corruption because of their timely int… Alam mo nag — mga bulador kayo,” he said.
“Mag-usap nga tayo, iyang tayo lang. Kung sinong nagsabi niyan, please rise and be brave enough to say that you are the one. I’d like to talk to you, tayo lang dalawa. Maski saan mo gusto, sa bahay mo para medyo maganda ang usapan o hindi sa labas kasi bawal. You can do it in the — there in the house, at the office at Pasig,” he added.
The Philippines has P73.2 billion allocated for the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines. John Ezekiel J. Hirro