TO ensure the efficient rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reiterated his appeal to concerned authorities to fast-track the rollout throughout the country as the government prepares to implement the next and larger phase to vaccinate the wider population.

“Bilisan natin ang ating vaccine rollout. Huwag na sana tayo umabot sa punto na mae-expire ito dahil nandiriyan na ‘yung mga bakuna. Dapat nakaplano ito nang maigi, na wala pong masasayang, dahil talagang agawan ang supply ng bakuna. Paigtingin at bilisan natin ang pagbabakuna para ma-attain natin ‘yung herd immunity sa community,” said Go.

Go also stressed that the government is in a race against time as vaccines have a limited shelf life, and new variants may threaten to reduce the effectiveness of the vaccines and possibly reverse any progress.

“Siguraduhin dapat na maayos ang storage, walang masisira at walang masasayang na bakuna dahil pinaghirapan po natin ito,” he emphasized.

“Sa mga kasamahan ko sa gobyerno, bilisan natin ang rollout, i-deploy na dapat sa iba’t ibang parte ng bansa, at siguraduhing ni isang bakuna ay walang masayang at magamit sa tama at wasto ayon sa ating ipinapatupad na vaccine program upang maproteksyunan ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” he added.

While government expects more vaccine doses to arrive from various sources soon, Go reminded that current stocks must be deployed immediately and more vaccination sites should be established to improve the country’s vaccination rate.

“Marami pa pong parating na bakuna sa mga susunod na buwan kaya kung anuman ang meron tayo ngayon, magamit na dapat para maturukan ang mga natitirang frontliners, vulnerable at essential sectors lalo na sa critical areas kung saan mataas pa ang bilang ng kaso,” he said.

“Pagkatapos nito, dapat makarating ang bakuna sa kahit saang sulok ng bansa lalo na sa mga lugar kung saan hindi pa nga nila nasusulyapan kung ano ang bakunang ito. Siguraduhin nating walang maiiwan tungo sa ating muling pagbangon,” he added.

On this note, the Senator, who also serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, strongly reminded concerned authorities to follow the government’s vaccine prioritization framework in order to ensure that the country’s healthcare workers and most vulnerable citizens are vaccinated already.

“Nakikiusap ako sa mga namamahala ng vaccination sa iba’t ibang lugar na wala dapat palakasan dito. Wala dapat pa-VIP at mas lalong wala dapat pulitika sa pagbabakuna. Kung sino ang dapat mauna, iyon dapat ang maturukan agad,” he stressed.

Go warned that failure to adhere to the framework will result in missed doses and needlessly slow down the vaccine rollout. He also advised those already eligible to be inoculated not to hesitate and trust the vaccination efforts.

“Para naman doon sa parte ng priority sectors, bagamat hindi namin kayo mapipilit, nakikiusap ako na magtiwala po kayo sa bakuna dahil kapakanan ninyo ang inuuna namin. Kapag panahon niyo na para magpabakuna, huwag na kayo mag-alinlangan pa, magpabakuna na agad kayo,” he appealed.

“Libre naman ang bakuna at importante ito para malayo kayo sa peligro. Ang bakuna ang poprotekta sa buhay ninyo laban sa COVID-19 na nakamamatay. Ito ang susi o solusyon para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay,” he continued.

He also advised concerned authorities to already prepare for the eventuality that the country would need to acquire more vaccines to address newer variants given the evolving nature of COVID-19.

“Ngayon pa lang paghandaan na natin para hindi tayo mabigla. Maglaan na dapat ng pondo kasi hindi natin masabi kelan ito matatapos at kung kailanganin pa ng another shot of vaccines after a year kung may panibagong variant ng sakit na ito na umusbong,” he explained.

Meanwhile, following the recent announcements of general community quarantine restrictions in the National Capital Region Plus areas, Go warned the public against being complacent and urged them to continue exercising the necessary health and safety protocols especially amid the emergence of new variants of COVID-19.

“Huwag tayong mag-panic dahil ginagawa naman ng gobyerno ang lahat para matugunan ito. Gayunpaman, ‘wag rin tayong magkumpiyansa. Kailangan dito ang disiplina at kooperasyon ng lahat. Sumunod tayo sa mga patakaran at mag-ingat tayo lalo kahit nag-GCQ na sa ibang lugar,” he said.

“Kung hindi tayo susunod sa patakaran at tataas nanaman ang kaso ng COVID-19, maaaring kailanganing higpitan pa lalo ang quarantine restrictions at magreresulta na naman ito sa pagsara ng kabuhayan. Mas hahaba pa ang ating kalbaryo laban sa pandemyang ito,” he added.

On Thursday, May 13, President Rodrigo Duterte downgraded the quarantine classification in Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal from modified enhanced community quarantine to general community quarantine “with heightened restrictions” from May 15 to 31, 2021.

“As government strives to balance the need to protect public health along with reviving the economy and livelihoods of Filipinos, we should not lose sight of the necessity of being vigilant. Our continued cooperation can save lives,” Go reiterated.