Amid the low uptake of booster doses in the country, Malacañang renewed its call to the public to get their booster shots as “added protection” against COVID-19 and its variants as pandemic persists.

Citing data from the Department of Health (DOH), Cabinet secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said at least 33.5 million individuals are qualified to get boosters but only 29 percent have received the shot.

“Nasa mahigit 23 milyon pa ang walang booster shots. Iniisip siguro ng karamihan, ‘Bakit kailangan nito? Bumababa naman na ang kaso ng COVID-19 sa bansa (Over 23 million people have yet to receive their booster shots. They might be thinking, why do we need this? Our COVID-19 cases are now decreasing). There is very little risk of getting COVID today.’ Kuno! (That’s what they claim),” he said.

However, Nograles noted that the argument of skipping COVID-19 booster shots due to lowering numbers of infections is “misguided.”

“Misguided po ang ganitong pananaw. Kailangan pa rin natin ng dagdag na proteksiyon. Ika nga (This is a misguided thought. We still need an added protection. As they say), it is better to be safe than sorry,” Nograles explained.

“Ito ay ating panlaban, hindi kalaban. Pansagip ng buhay, pambangon ng kabuhayan. Magpabakuna at magpa-booster shots na po tayo (It is our defense, not enemy. It is saving lives and the economy. Let’s get vaccinated and boosted),” he added.

President Duterte made a similar call during his “Talk to the People” public address on Monday, Feb. 21, and assured that the vaccines being administered are safe and effective

“Huwag kayong mangamba dahil ang ating bakuna ay pinag-aralang mabuti ng ating mga eksperto. Ito ay garantisadong dekalidad, ligtas, at higit sa lahat epektibo at mabubuhay ka (Don’t worry because our vaccines have been thoroughly studied by experts. This is safe and effective, and you will live),” Duterte said.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Alexandria Dennise San Juan

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