Pasig City mayor calls for support to PH government’s vaccination drive

MANILA, Philippines — Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Tuesday rallied support to the national government’s Covid-19 inoculation program.

“With the vaccines, we finally see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said as the city began its mass vaccination campaign on Tuesday.

“Let’s support the vaccination program ng ating pamahalaan tungo sa mas maliwanag na kinabukasan para sa ating lungsod at para sa ating bayan,” he added.

Sotto said more than 100 health workers availed of the CoronaVac, the jab developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech, in Pasig City’s vaccination drive.

He said, however, health care workers and residents will not be forced to get the Covid-19 vaccine.

“Doon sa mga nag-aalinlangan pa, naiintindihan po namin. Huwag po kayong mag-alala, hindi po sapilitan itong pagbabakuna natin. This would be on a purely voluntary basis,” Sotto said.

“Kung hindi pa tayo sigurado, ok lang po ‘yun. Huwag natin i-judge ‘yung mga healthcare frontliners na ayaw pa or natatakot pa,” he added.

But Sotto sees that public confidence would improve once the inoculation campaign goes on full swing.

“Tingin ko once we begin our program, tataas at tataas ‘yung confidence level ng healthcare professionals at pati ng ordinaryong mamamayan,” he said.

Testing czar Vince Dizon, who was present at the program, agreed that many are still hesitant to get inoculated, but he hoped this would eventually change.

“Maraming natatakot, maraming hindi sigurado sa pagbabakuna. Pero sana po yung agam-agam na yun ay mabilis na maibabago at gagawin nating pag-asa,” he said.

“Itong bakunang ito ang final na solusyon natin dito sa napakabigat na dinadanas natin mag-i-isang taon na,” Dizon said.

KGA