PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his eldest son, Ilocos Norte First District Representative Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, took their coronavirus disease (Covid-19) booster shots publicly on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, to encourage more people in the country to get their additional vaccine doses to further increase their protection against the severe effects of the virus that have claimed thousands of lives around the world.
In a “PinasLakas” vaccination campaign event at the SM Manila, Marcos received his Covid-19 booster shot administered by Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, while Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna inoculated the younger Marcos.
In his speech, Marcos reiterated the benefits of Covid-19 booster doses to combat emerging variants and sub-variants in a bid to revive the country’s economy, which has been affected by the pandemic.
“Sana lalong lalo pabukas ang ekonomiya, ayaw natin mag lockdown. Gusto natin matanggal na ang mask protocol, lahat yan hindi natin maaabot yan kung hindi tayo magpapabooster shot ngayon,” he said.
(The economy is slowly recovering and we don’t want another lockdown. We want the mask protocol gone. All of what we have achieved now would not be possible if we don’t get out booster shots.)
“We have many elements that is going to be important, the back to school, the certain parts of the economy. Lahat yan ay aming tinitignan para makabalik sa trabaho, para makabalik sa eskwelahan at para maging safe tayo (We are looking into all these to resume onsite work and face-to-face classes, and for everybody’s safety). We have to encourage everyone to have a booster shot,” he added.
He said studies clearly showed that Covid-19 vaccination, which includes booster doses, will prevent a person, except for those with comorbidities, from having severe infection due to Covid-19.
Marcos said he is hoping that his effort will trigger the public to get their booster shots.
“To show everyone that it is safe, effective and needed with us trying to open the economy, the schools, trying to bring everything back to normal situation, sa dami ng hinaharap nating problema and the importance that this booster will play in bringing us back to that condition,” he said.
Marcos said the country has sufficient supply of Covid-19 vaccines and that the government will not hesitate to get more supplies if needed, especially the doses that are proven effective against the Omicron sub-variants, which are said to be the main driver of the prevailing Covid-19 surge in the country.
The number of fully vaccinated individuals in the country as of August 14 was at 72,107,090, while there were 17,015,413 who received booster doses.
The “Pinaslakas” program aims to increase the number of Filipinos receiving Covid-19 booster shot to maintain the country’s wall of immunity.
Since its launching on August 11, more than 18,900 “PinasLakas” vaccination sites have been established across the country. These include those in markets, schools, workplaces, terminals, places of worship and mobile vaccination sites.
The government aims to fully vaccinate 90 percent of the senior citizen population, as well as increase booster dose coverage to 50 percent of the total population before October 8, 2022, which marks the first 100 days of the Marcos Administration. (SunStar Philippines)