DURING his address to the nation, outgoing President Rodrigo Roa Duterte continued to urge parents to get their children vaccinated against the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes Covid-19 amidst the threat of emerging variants of the virus and the resulting downturn that has gravely affected the country’s economy.
Duterte enjoined Filipino parents in the vernacular, “Pabakunahan mo na anak mo. Anak ninyo ‘yan eh. So huwag ka sanang magkaproblema diyan sa anak mo. Siguraduhin mo na lang na makabakuna pa, tapos may proteksiyon.”
This was echoed by Duterte’s former special assistant and confidante, incumbent senator Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, who reiterated the importance of vaccines in defeating the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and asked parents to get their qualified children inoculated so the latter would not get severely sick or die of the deadly disease.
“Bilang chair ng Senate Committee on Health, tiwala ako na dumaan sa masusi at maingat na pagsusuri ang mga bakuna bago inilabas ito sa publiko. Naniniwala din ako na ang bakuna ang susi natin para malampasan ang kasalukuyang pandemya,” Go noted.
Earlier, the first-time legislator cited out that public health experts largely agree that the vaccines are the most effective form of protection against the virus.
“As for parents who are hesitant to get their children vaccinated, (I) strongly encouraged them to get the information they need from trusted healthcare providers and health experts, such as their local pediatricians,” he enthused.
“Sa mga magulang na may agam-agam hinggil sa ating mga bakuna kontra Covid-19, hinihikayat ko kayo na sumangguni sa inyong mga doktor, health experts o sa DOH upang mailatag nang maayos ang mga impormasyon na dapat ninyong malaman. Huwag po tayong basta-basta maniwala sa kung anong mga ipinapakalat sa social media,” he added to caution the public against fake news and rumors.
In ending, while he agrees that Covid-19 remains a threat, Go said he is optimistic about the progress of the country’s pandemic response, including its vaccination efforts.
“(I am urging to) continue cooperating with the government in its fight against Covid-19 by maintaining . . . discipline and complying with health guidelines. Ang dapat lang pong gawin ng Pilipino ay makiisa po at makipag-cooperate dito sa kampanya laban sa Covid-19. So, disiplina pa rin po ang kailangan natin dito,” he concluded.
