CALOOCAN CITY, March 1 (PIA) -- The success of the Philippines' first vaccination rollout depends primarily on the support of healthcare workers and other medical frontliners working in major referral hospitals, and the public as well, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said today.
Duque, who joined other national and local government officials in the historic ceremonial inoculation program at the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) in Quezon City on Monday, said the deployment of quality-assured, safe and effective CoronaVax vaccines to thousands of frontline workers across the country, could only be realized if the public will take part in this massive immunization program.
"Sa puntong ito, ako pong muli ay nananawagan. Will you please join us later, as we launch this rollout of our national deployment and immunization plan. This is the first day of its execution. The success of this lies in you and your support," the health chief emphasized.
He said the countless preparations made by both the local and national government in the interest of public health, give Filipinos the security and confidence to know that vaccines being secured through channels meet world health standards for safety, effectiveness and quality.
"Ako po ay natutuwa at dito [Lung Center] natin ginaganap ang ating launching, ang kauna-unahang COVID-19 vaccination program. Hinihikayat po natin ang lahat. Samahan ninyo po ang inyong gobyerno, ang inyong Department of Health, ang inyong Inter-Agency Task Force, at lokal na pamahalaan ng Quezon City, na talaga naman na nagpursige at nagpunyagi na gawin ang lahat ng pamamaraan upang masugpo ang COVID-19 dito sa Quezon City, in particular, and in the whole of the Philippines in general," Duque said.
"Kaya magtiwala po kayo sa inyong gobyerno. Dahil ang pakay ng gobyerno ay ang interes ng taumbayan higit po sa lahat," he added.
Healthcare workers and other medical frontliners working in major referral hospitals in the country will be prioritized in the inoculation program, following the arrival of 600,000 doses of China-donated CoronaVac vaccines made by Sinovac Biotech pharmaceutical firm.
Aside from the LCP, included in the Metro Manila hospitals to receive the vials are the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital in Manila; Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium in Caloocan City; East Avenue Medical Center, V. Luna Hospital, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, and the PNP General Hospital in Quezon City.
During the ceremonial innoculation event, around 20 health care workers of LCP were initially vaccinated with the CoronaVac vaccine. Duque administered the historic first shot to a healthcare professional.
LCP Hospital Director Dr. Vincent Balanag, for his part, said the hospital received its first batch of 600 jabs from Chinese drug manufacturer Sinovac.
"Ngayong araw ipakita po natin ang ating suporta dahil isang taon na po tayong talagang napakahabang sakripisyo ang atin pong ibinigay sa tugon sa COVID-19 pandemic," Duque said. (PIA NCR)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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