DESPITE the country’s success in acquiring sufficient vaccine supply over the recent years, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said that more needs to be done to reach areas with low vaccination rates and prevent vaccines from being wasted.

In an interview on Monday, November 21, Go persisted in urging Filipinos to get their COVID-19 vaccinations and booster shots in order to prevent vaccine wastage, especially since both the public and private sectors had to spend money to acquire them. Some vaccines have also been received through donations.

“Malaking aksaya po ito hindi lang sa pera ng gobyerno pati rin po sa pribadong sektor na bumili o mga nag-donate,” said Go.

“Noong panahon na nangailangan tayo ng bakuna, nagmamadali ang gobyerno. Kulang ang supply at naniguro tayong walang shortage ng bakuna, ngayon sumobra dahil ang iba po ay ayaw nang magpabakuna,” he lamented.

According to the Department of Health, 165,516,940 vaccines have been administered in the country as of November 17. A total of 73,689,489 Filipinos have been fully vaccinated, with an additional 20,833,720 vaccines administered as booster shots.

However, the health department also reported that PhP15.6 billion worth of 31 million unused COVID-19 shots were wasted. Roughly 24 million doses never got used due to short shelf life according to the DOH.

“Nasa 26% lang po ang ating (booster) vaccination rate sa first dose at 4% sa second dose (ng booster shot as of November 1),” said Go, as he urged the government to further intensify its vaccination efforts.

“Kaya paigtingin pa natin ang pagpapabakuna. Suyurin natin para hindi masayang. Kesa naman ma-expire, suyurin na po natin (ang mga komunidad),” he added.

Go then urged Filipinos not to be satisfied with just receiving initial vaccination shots as additional booster dose, once eligible, would likewise give them an additional layer of defense against COVID-19.

“Ang problema ko nga, sa pag-iikot ko sa bansa, nakukuntento na sila sa primary doses. ‘Wag kayong makuntento. Nandiyan naman ang bakuna. Kesa naman masayang, magpabakuna na kayo dahil mas protektado kayo kapag kayo po ay bakunado. Bakuna po ang tamang solusyon para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa normal na pamumuhay,” he added.

When asked if there should be accountability for the issue of vaccine wastage, Go said that, as the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, he is always in favor of transparency.

“As chair ng Committee on Health, karapatan nating lahat na malaman kung bakit sumobra, bakit nasayang. For transparency, kung ano talaga ang totoong nangyari at hindi na maulit ito at walang masayang,” he said.

“I am for transparency, the truth always para sa akin po, kung ano ang totoo,” he reiterated.

In a separate ambush interview after personally aiding indigent families in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on November 19, Go also reiterated his call to bring quality health services to more rural communities as he pushes for the establishment of more specialty hospitals or centers nationwide.

“(Dapat magkaroon tayo ng mas marami pang) mga specialty hospitals o centers para hindi na kailangan pang bumiyahe ang mga kababayan natin mula sa probinsya papunta sa Maynila. The more na maging proactive tayo sa ating healthcare system dahil mas mabuti na ang handa,” stressed Go.

“Asahan n’yo po na isusulong ko ang mga makakatulong sa mga mahihirap. Importante sa akin ang mga mahihirap, ‘yung mga hopeless, mga helpless, ‘yung walang matakbuhan,” he added.

He also reminded the government of its responsibility to see to it that no Filipino is left behind on the road to complete pandemic recovery.

“Dapat po walang maiwan towards our march sa ating recovery, sa ating ekonomiya, recovery ng ating bansa mula sa pandemya. Sa ating march towards full recovery ng ating bansa ay dapat walang maiwan na Pilipino,” said Go.