Senior citizens fully vaccinated against Covid-19 were urged to remain indoors amid the pandemic until the Philippines achieves “population protection.”
Palace spokesman Harry Roque on Monday said seniors were better off staying inside their homes because they were the most vulnerable to complications caused by Covid-19.
“Hindi lang naman po iyong mga may bakuna ang pupuwedeng magkaroon ng proteksiyon, kinakailangan mas marami pa sa populasyon ang magkakaroon ng proteksiyon dahil ang bakuna po is not a guarantee na hindi na kayo tatamaan ng Covid. It is a guarantee na siguro hindi kayo magkakasakit nang malala o hindi kayo mamamatay pero iba po ang kondisyon ng mga seniors – they are especially vulnerable,” he said in a virtual presser.
Roque said senior citizens may still go outside their residences to exercise or to avail themselves of essential goods.
“Hindi naman po absolutely prohibited ang mga seniors na lumabas. Puwede po silang lumabas para bilhin iyong mga kinakailangan nila; kung kinakailangang pumunta ng mall para dito e pinapayagan naman sila. Pinapayagan silang mag-exercise dahil importante naman talaga ang exercise para sa health promotions dahil kinakailangan manatiling malusog laban sa Covid-19,” he said.
“So let us veer on the safer side na hanggang wala pa pong population protection, habang hindi pa natin nababakunahan ang 70 percent ng ating populasyon, stay at home muna po ang mga lolo at lola,” he added.
National Commission on Senior Citizens chairperson Franklin Quijano earlier called on the government to ease mobility restrictions on fully vaccinated senior citizens in a bid to boost the economy.
Senior citizens are the country’s second-highest priority group for Covid-19 vaccination. John Ezekiel J. Hirro