SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go has urged local government units and authorities in charge of the vaccination program to bring vaccines directly to eligible members of the vaccine priority list and inoculate them in their homes if necessary in a bid to hasten the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

In an interview during the launch of the 118th Malasakit Center at the Bukidnon Provincial Hospital-Maramag in Maramag, Bukidnon, Go urged LGUs to explore the possibility of doing house-to-house operations to vaccinate priority groups, particularly senior citizens who have difficulties going outside their homes.

“Ang panawagan ko po sa mga LGUs na suyurin po. Kasi ‘yung mga senior citizens natin hindi nakakalabas, takot pong lumabas, takot mag-travel po papunta sa vaccination center,” said Go.

“Dapat po, pwede bang maaari ibahay-bahay n’yo na po, puntahan ng LGUs ‘yung pamamahay ng mga senior citizens na gustong magpabakuna,” he added.

Go said that priority groups have to be vaccinated immediately so that the vaccination program can continue to expand to other groups.

“Remember, 18 million ang senior citizens natin. Marami pa tayong backlog, kaunti pa ‘yung supply ng bakuna natin,” said Go.

The Senator, then, repeated his call to members of priority groups not to fear the vaccines but fear the virus instead, urging them to immediately get vaccinated.

“Nananawagan po ako sa mga kababayan natin na magtiwala ho kayo sa bakuna, huwag ho kayong matakot sa bakuna. Sa mga senior citizens po magpabakuna na kayo, part po kayo ng priority list. Marami pa pong dapat balikan ang ating gobyerno, lalung lalo na po sa senior citizen,” said Go.

Aside from the top priority groups, Go also asked essential workers to get inoculated as the government recently opened the vaccination of the A4 priority group in critical areas at risk of case surges.

Go said that opening up the vaccination program to essential workers will help in the recovery of the economy which has been under restrictions to deter the spread of COVID-19.

“Kakabukas lang po ng A4, ‘yung mga essential workers, economic frontliners. Magpabakuna na po kayo, para po ito sa ating ekonomiya,” said Go.

“Para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay katulad noon, mabuksan na po ang ating ekonomiya,” he ended.

As of June 7, the Philippines has breached the six million mark on vaccine administration. It has received 9,329,050 doses of COVID-19 vaccines so far, and is expecting to receive more than two million vaccine doses on June 10 —- more than one million of which are Pfizer vaccines from the COVAX Facility, and an additional one million Sinovac doses. More than ten million doses are expected to arrive this June.