No politics in access to vaccines – Bong Go
SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has vowed that every Filipino will be given access to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines with consideration to the order of priority of sectors as determined by authorities and health experts.
The chairman of the Senate Health committee said the vaccination program was based on science, not politics, especially when it comes to providing access to those who need them.
“There’s no problem, you know, [these vaccines are] for all Filipinos, whether you’re a critic or you love us,” he said during a radio interview on February 28.
Go added that the government treats everyone equally regardless of his or her political views.
He urged critics to work with the government so the country could immediately recover from the pandemic.
He added that it was alright to criticize the government so long as these alleged detractors do not spread misinformation or fake news.
The same advice was given by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Monday.
“Now is not the time to play doomsayer. Now is not the time for games. And most specially, now is not the time for politics,” he said, adding, “Let us encourage our people to participate in the program and have themselves vaccinated.”
Go also on Sunday witnessed the arrival from China and turnover of 600,000 Sinovac vaccines in Pasay City with President Rodrigo Duterte.
The senator called the vaccine donations “a testament [to the] friendship and cooperation between the Philippines and China during these difficult times.”
He said the vaccines “will also jumpstart the vaccination program of our government.”
“Our government, our Team Philippines, is working very hard to secure the delivery of subsequent batches of vaccines,” Go added.
Lorenzana defended the integrity of the Sinovac vaccine, CoronaVac, saying the Chinese company that produced it had been a supplier to the Philippines of “effective and affordable” antirabies, anti-tetanus and flu vaccines since 2009.
Criticizing the Chinese-made vaccine “without really knowing the technical facts” would lead people to be discouraged from taking it, he stressed.
CoronaVac has a 50.4-percent efficacy rate based on studies conducted by Brazilian researchers.
Lorenzana, also the chairman of the National Task Force against Covid-19, cited how some nearby countries have rolled out the Sinovac’s vaccine such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong.
The Defense chief on Tuesday inspected the vaccinations done in Camp Aguinaldo, the military’s general headquarters in Quezon City.
He was accompanied by Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana during the “ceremonial vaccination.”
Hospitals in the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force also kicked off their respective vaccination programs for their personnel.
Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, spokesman for the Armed Forces, said they targeted to vaccinate at least 30 medical workers in each hospital of the major service branches and the military itself.