Galvez banks on info drive to counter anti-vaxxers on social media

FILE PHOTO: Registered pharmacist fills a dead volume syringe with the Covid-19 vaccine at a pop-up vaccination site in William Reid Apartments in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S., January 23, 2021. Mary Altaffer/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

MANILA, Philippines — Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Monday stressed the importance of an information drive to counter anti-vaxxers (people who disagree with the use of vaccines for a variety of reasons) on social media which he said is among the reasons for low vaccine confidence among Filipinos.

“Ito po ang medyo may problema tayo na talagang dapat pagtulungan po natin. Alam po namin na malaki po ang maitutulong ng ating mayor, Presidente kasi po bumababa po ‘yong willingness ng ating mga kababayan dahil nga po sa mga adverse effects ng certain brands,” Galvez told President Rodrigo Duterte in a televised meeting.

(This is a problem that needs to be addressed. We know that you will be of great help because the willingness of our countrymen to get vaccinated is decreasing due to the adverse effects of certain brands.)

“At the same time, malakas po yung social media ng mga anti-vaxxers. Malaking hamon po ito,” he added.

(At the same time, anti-vaxxers have a strong social media presence. This is a big challenge.)

Galvez said they launched the “Explain, Explain, Explain” campaign to relay information on the Covid-19 vaccines that are expected to arrive soon in the country.

He also highlighted that the country will be procuring vaccines that are already widely used in other countries like those developed by US drugmaker Pfizer, China’s Sinovac, among others.

A recent Pulse Asia survey showed the majority of Filipinos do not want to be vaccinated against Covid-19 due to safety concerns.

/MUF