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Friday, March 29, 2024

Duterte-Robredo infomercial gains support; Roque demurs

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Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday supported a proposal for an infomercial encouraging Filipinos to get vaccinated against COVID-19, which features President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo.

Duque, in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, said politics should have no place in matters concerning public health, especially COVID-19 vaccination.

“That’s a good idea because in health, in vaccination, there are no politics, political parties, administration, or opposition. Our objective should be to unify,” Duque said.

Senator Joel Villanueva on Thursday suggested that Duterte and Robredo be featured together in a public service announcement in order to boost trust in vaccines.

But presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Robredo should give a clear stance on COVID-19 vaccines first.

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This after Robredo earlier backed the healthcare workers’ previous call to review the COVID-19 vaccines developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech.

“So, we should first be enlightened about the real stance of VP Robredo because from the very start, the President keeps on saying that the most effective vaccine is the vaccine that we currently have,” Roque said.

Robredo's spokesman Barry Gutierrez said the Vice President, if asked, was open to join Duterte in a COVID-19 vaccination infomercial.

“VP Leni is always open to any effort to encourage our fellow citizens to have themselves vaccinated. In fact, last February, she released an online infomercial discussing different questions asked by the people about vaccines,” Gutierrez said.

“So if there is someone who would reach out to her that she and the President would work together for an infomercial so we could further encourage the people, she is open (to that idea),” he added.

He said the Vice President would not ask for any conditions should she do an infomercial.

“At this time and day, we should really do what is necessary – to work together to push our country to overcome this pandemic. So at this point in time, let us set aside any political difference, anxieties and let us just help one another,” he said.

Meanwhile, the recent Social Weather Stations survey said at least 58 percent of adult Filipinos expressed confidence that getting vaccinated would protect them against the coronavirus diseases 2019, while 20 percent were not confident.

“The percentage of those willing to get vaccinated is 58 percent among those very confident, versus 38 percent among those somewhat confident, 18 percent among those of uncertain confidence, 20 percent among those somewhat not confident, and 11 percent among those not at all confident, about the government’s evaluation of the vaccines,” the SWS said.

SWS interviewed around 1,200 respondents using sampling error margins of ±3 percentage points for national percentages and ±6 percentage points for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

Malacañang, reacting to the SWS survey, said it was elated that more than half of Filipinos have expressed confidence over the government’s evaluation of the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines.

Personal protection and prevention against COVID-19 are top reasons to get vaccinated, the survey said.

Those who are willing to be vaccinated were asked, “Why did you say you will surely/probably get the vaccine if you have a chance to be given a free vaccine that can prevent COVID-19?”

A total of 41 percent gave answers related to “for my safety and protection against COVID-19,” followed by “to avoid contracting the COVID-19 virus” at 30 percent.

The SWS also found 51 percent of adult Filipinos were confident, 31 percent uncertain, and 17 percent not confident about the government’s evaluation of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Willingness to be vaccinated is highest in Metro Manila (41 percent), followed by Mindanao (34 percent), the Visayas (32 percent), and Balance Luzon (28 percent).

Meanwhile, the head of the Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) stressed that all COVID-19 vaccines were effective, especially in real world conditions, as she urged the public not to be choosy, and have themselves inoculated whatever brand is available.

VEP head Dr. Nina Gloriani, in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, said the COVID-19 vaccines that have been rolled out in the country had all gone through stringent evaluation by experts.

“Let’s avoid being picky about brands because we studied all these vaccines. Their efficacies are not that different from each other, especially in the real world situation,” she said.

“These vaccines are similar. In fact, their data in real world conditions are almost the same and even higher than those recorded during clinical trials,” she added.

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