MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the vaccine czar, and presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to brief the public on the government’s vaccine efforts twice a week.
“We are trying our best. As you have heard from Secretary Galvez, we are in the process of really working towards the realization of our vaccine program,” Duterte said, speaking partly in Filipino, in a pre-recorded speech that aired late Monday.
“You know, you can only have about a good knowledge or at least an understanding of our Covid program once you hear us, me, right now this evening. But it doesn’t come to you every day,” he went on.
“So I have requested Secretary Galvez and Secretary Roque to be the ones who will give public information and it should be given twice a week — twice a week so you’ll be better informed of what government is doing,” he added.
Government officials have stressed the importance of an information drive on the vaccination to program increase public confidence in it.
About 47 percent of Filipinos do not want to be vaccinated against Covid-19 due to safety concerns, a recent Pulse Asia survey showed.
To boost public confidence, Malacañang said the President would be getting inoculated against Covid-19 in public.
Several lawmakers and mayors have also expressed willingness to receive the Covid-19 vaccine first to encourage the public in getting inoculated.
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