PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, received his first dose of the Sinovac vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) to encourage other PNP personnel to get inoculated.
Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Secretary Maria Francia Laxamana administered the shot during the ceremonial vaccination for priority group A4 at Camp Crame. The police belong to this priority group along with other workers who need to be physically present at the workplace.
“Bilang ama ng PNP, gusto kong ipakita sa ating hanay na epektibo po ang bakuna laban sa Covid-19. Lahat po ng bakunang aprubado ng Food and Drug Administration ay ligtas kaya’t huwag po kayong matakot na magpaturok nito,” Eleazar said.
He said getting vaccinated would allow the police to perform their mandate as law enforcers and frontliners in the battle against the infectious disease better.
Eleazar said based on the recent survey they have conducted, 92.76 percent of the PNP’s total forces were willing to receive the vaccine.
The PNP received 500 doses, which were divided into 200 for the senior officers in Camp Crame, 200 for the National Capital Region Police Office, 50 for the Special Action Force, and another 50 for the PNP-Aviation Security Group.
Eleazar said the government initially allocated 28,000 doses to the PNP. This will increase when more vaccines are delivered to the Philippines.
Policemen may also get inoculated in their areas of deployment.
Eleazar urged the policemen not to be choosy and take whatever vaccine is available.
Since the start of the vaccination program on March 1, 2021, Eleazar said 18,320 police officers who were part of the A1 to A3 priority groups have been vaccinated.
Of this number, 63 percent have received two doses.
As of June 14, the PNP has recorded 25, 866 total Covid-19 cases, including 71 deaths, 23,930 recoveries and 1,865 active cases. (SunStar Philippines)