Senator Christopher “Bong” Go once again stressed how critical faster vaccine rollout is in accelerating the country’s return to normalcy following reports that some age groups and regions in the Philippines still have poor vaccine coverage.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go expressed concern over the recent report of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 during the Talk to the People address of President Rodrigo Duterte on April 11, which revealed that only 34.13% in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have been inoculated against COVID-19 – the lowest among all regions.

The senator renewed his call to the national and local government officials to ramp up their vaccination efforts and step up their information campaigns on the benefits of vaccines, especially in BARMM and regions such as MIMAROPA and Region 12, where less than 70% of the target population have received their first dose.

In contrast, National Capital Region has already reached 111.11% of its target population for the first dose while Region 1 and Region 2 have recorded 88.03% and 85.38%, respectively. These three regions have the highest turnout in the country.

Go reiterated the need for more localized education and outreach efforts to build up public trust and combat vaccine hesitancy in the grassroots, echoing President Duterte’s call to local officials, particularly in BARMM, to ensure that COVID-19 vaccination rate in their respective regions will pick up in the weeks ahead.

“Kung kailangang suyurin ang bawat bahay sa mga pinakaliblib na lugar sa bansa ay gawin natin…Hindi man natin mapilit ang lahat na magpabakuna, dapat may sapat na kaalaman at insentibo ang mga tao para hindi na sila mag-alinlangan pa dahil bakuna talaga ang tanging susi o solusyon para malampasan ang pandemya,” he earlier stressed.

Noting that except for Metro Manila, all other regions failed to breach 20% of their target population to be boosted, the senator added, “Isulong din natin ang pagbibigay ng booster shots sa mga nakakumpleto na ng kanilang bakuna… Ang booster dose ay karagdagang proteksyon laban sa COVID-19. Mismong si Pangulong Duterte ang nagbigay-diin hinggil sa halaga ng booster shots, lalo na para sa pagkontrol ng pagkalat ng nakakahawang variants.”

The same NTF report showed that although fully vaccinated Filipinos and those who have received their first dose are already at 74% and 79.79%, respectively, only 17.29% have obtained their booster shot.

Moreover, since the national government commenced its pilot implementation of COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 5 to 11 years this February, only 17.69% in the said age group have been inoculated. This prompted Go to likewise renew his appeal to the parents to allow their eligible children to get jabbed to boost their immune systems and ensure that they will be physically healthy by the time they go back to face-to-face classes.

“Alam ko po na marami ang nag-aalala at concerned sa magiging epekto ng bakuna para sa kanilang mga anak ngunit maniwala po tayo sa mga eksperto, doktor at sa siyensya. Napatunayan na po na makakatulong itong magbigay ng dagdag proteksyon para sa mga menor de edad,” Go previously said.

“Kaya naman po bilang mga magulang at mga tagabantay, protektahan po natin sila sa pamamagitan ng pagpapabakuna. Importante po na maunawaan nila ang kahalagahan nito at kung bakit kailangan na sila mismo ay mabakunahan rin,” he appealed.

Meanwhile, as Christians across the world reflect on the death of Jesus Christ – the ultimate sacrifice He paid as the price of humanity’s salvation this Lenten Season, Go reminded everyone to also remember the sacrifices of every Filipino frontliner and all those who continue to spearhead the fight against the global health crisis, even at the expense of their own lives.

The senator once again thanked and commended all the frontliners for their immeasurable sacrifices that saved countless lives amid the pandemic, saying, “Ipinapaabot ko ang aking walang sawang pasasalamat sa ating mga bayaning medical frontliners at mga kapwa kawani ko sa gobyerno. Nagpapasalamat po ako sa inyong sakripisyo para sa bayan.”

“Kayo ang nasa harap lumalaban ngayong pandemya at alam kong pagod na pagod na rin kayo at nagkakasakit na rin ang iba sa inyo. Maraming salamat po sa inyong suporta at kooperasyon upang masigurong ligtas ang bawat isa sa atin,” he added.