Get COVID-19 booster shot, President Duterte tells Filipinos
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Compound in Davao City on June 7, 2021. JOEY DALUMPINES/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday appealed to those who had the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine to return for the booster shot to make them fully immunized from the virus.
In his weekly public address on
government response to the pandemic, President Duterte said he wants
authorities to convince people to get the second dose of the coronavirus
vaccine to ensure protection.
“Mahirapan talaga akong magkumbinse sa
Pilipino, lalo na ‘yong matigas ang ulo. Kindly follow instruction. Hindi naman
mahirap ‘yan eh. You find time at your convenience na bumalik doon pumila at
magpabakuna ng tinatawag nilang second booster. Iyon ang magbigay sa inyo ng
more or less a good protection,” he said.
“I want the authorities and the LGUs to
find out why this is happening and to take steps to return to their ---
maimbiyerna sila na madala ng mga barangay captain pati mayors. Kindly help us
ferret out the persons who have not received the second booster until now.”
The President told people to get the
full dose, saying although it took some time for the country to get its share
of the jabs, vaccine shipments now come in as western countries wrap up their
vaccination drive and after they expressed willingness to share their
inventories.
COVID-19, he said “is a very toxic
thing” and it can contaminate people again, therefore a complete regimen is
needed. Despite getting the shot, he advised the public to continue adhering to
government-mandated protocols such as wearing of mask, frequent handwashing,
and observing physical distancing.
“Matatapos rin ito, especially with
your cooperation, matatapos ito mas madali,” he stressed.
On Sunday, the Philippines received
another one million doses of CoronaVac manufactured by Chinese pharmaceutical
company Sinovac Biotech.
The shipment is part of the 10 million
doses that the government expect to receive this month, according to vaccine
coordinator Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.
Other deliveries expected this June
will come from drugmakers Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Gamaleya Research Institute and
Moderna. PND
