Go calls for unified vaccine rollout

SENATOR Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Friday called for a unified, "whole-of-government" effort to expedite the acquisition of coronavirus disease vaccine procurement and effectively implement a vaccine roadmap.

He also urged government officials to work together to allay fears, erase doubts, and build up public confidence on the vaccine rollout toward recovery.

The National Vaccine Roadmap aims to complete the procurement process within the first quarter of the year so that distribution and immunization of priority sectors may begin by March.

“As we move forward, I continue to appeal to our leaders — our President, our Senate President, as well as other elected and appointed officials — for the sake of the country, for the sake of the poor Filipino people, let us unite so that the rollout of the vaccines will not be delayed and for us all to go back to our normal lives,” Go, who heads the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said in English and Filipino.

“I have already appealed to everyone — for the sake of the welfare of the Filipinos, let us all unite. We have a common objective and that is to overcome the pandemic and to rescue our countrymen from poverty,” he added.

Go also commended President Rodrigo Duterte for issuing a memorandum granting Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd and National Task Force Against Covid- 19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. special authority to sign vaccine supply agreements and documents on cost-sharing contributions to the Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access or Covax Facility.

Go said the special authority will allow for a more efficient, effective and expedited implementation of the comprehensive vaccination program.