A GROUP opposing the Covid-19 vaccination had mounted a billboard in Davao City, saying parents should think twice before having their children vaccinated.
The billboard was paid by the Alliance of Filipinos For Freedom and Informed Choice (AFFIC), which was first seen over the weekend.
The group is urging parents to think twice before having their children inoculated as the Covid-19 pediatric vaccination for ages five to 11 began last week.
Based on the billboard's text, the group is using the perspective of the child, who questioned the parent's decision to have him or her vaccinated against Covid-19.
"NAY, TAY, NGANO IMO KONG PABAKUNAHAN? (Mom, dad, why do you let me get vaccinated?)," the upper text of the billboard wrote.
The subject of the billboard cited that there is no reason for children to get vaccinated because they are healthy.
AFFIC also said on the billboard that there is no guarantee that those vaccinated will not get infected with Covid-19. In addition, all the vaccines' efficacy is still under experimentation and its effect would affect the lives of those vaccinated.
The group also said the government and pharmaceutical companies would not be held liable for the vaccinees, citing Section 8 of Republic Act No. (RA) 11525 or the Covid-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021.
AFFIC continues to cite RA 11525, that Covid-19 vaccination is not a mandatory school requirement.
"PALIHUG HUNAHUNAA OG MAAYO, NAY, TAY... (Please think this through, mom, dad)," the lower text of the billboard wrote.
The group, on February 13, through its volunteers, also distributed leaflets and encouraged the public to "resist the rush and wait until the Covid-19 vaccines for children are proven safe and effective."
SunStar Davao reached out to the group through their Facebook page, but they have yet to respond as of Monday.
Dr. Gerna Manatad, Department of Health-Davao Region (DOH-Davao) assistant regional director, said in a virtual presser on Monday, February 21, that they have also received reports of certain individuals and organizations in the region who are pushing to advance their causes against vaccination through various medium, including social media.
Manatad said DOH continues to emphasize the efficacy and safety of the vaccines, especially for those belonging to the pediatric age group qualified to receive the vaccines.
"We are not in favor of this because we know that vaccination really protects our children, our senior citizens, our healthcare workers, and the whole community who are in need of that kind of protection," Manatad said during the DOH virtual presser.
The health official said DOH will improve its information dissemination.
She also said local governments would have to expand their vaccination coverage in order to achieve herd immunity or population immunity.
Meanwhile, time and again, the government through the health department has informed the public that based on their data, majority of Covid-19 fatalities are unvaccinated, as well as a large number of those in severe and critical Covid-19 cases are also unvaccinated.
As of February 18, DOH-Davao reported that a total of 6,124,824 Covid-19 doses were already administered in Davao Region.
Out of the 4,361,158 target population, 2,881,553 or 66.1 percent have been fully vaccinated.