Garin

House leader slams ‘anti-vaxxers’

August 30, 2022 Ryan Ponce Pacpaco 320 views

CHED undermining gov’t efforts vs COVID-19

HOUSE Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin slammed anti-vaxxers on Tuesday, calling them a “strong lobby group” that always opposes vaccination despite it being the obvious policy of the government when it comes to the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“I think CHED’s announcement is the success of anti-vaxxers. The anti-vaccine group is a very strong lobby group that are also well-organized. So palagi ‘yan silang komokontra kasi ‘yan ang kanilang paniniwala,” Garin said during Tuesday’s Ugnayan sa Batasan Majority News Forum.

Garin was reacting to the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) pronouncement that it would no longer require higher education institution (HEI) students and even personnel to get COVID-19 jabs in preparation for the return of face-to-face classes.

“Kapag ikaw naman eh magpadala doon, siyempre medyo matakot ka kasi you’ll be threatened with cases, then nandudoon na ngayon ‘yung nahahati ‘yung iyong desire to protect our people versus protecting yourself,” she explained, referring to anti-vaxxers.

Garin is a former Department of Health (DOH) secretary. She expressed belief that Malacañang must step in and decide what’s best for the people regarding the issue.

“Ang pananaw ko, it’s now the President’s call. Because only the President can make sure that when people in government do their job, they will be protected,” she said.

“I believe it’s a matter that should really be discussed thoroughly by government. Because when there’s a fight between pro-vaccine and anti-vaccine, kailangan na kailangan na pumagitna ang gobyerno at tingnan kung ano ba ang nararapat para sa sambayanang Pilipino,” Garin stressed.

According to the lady solon, the policy would place at-risk Filipino adults at HEIs who already have health issues.

“I think the bigger risk there is for the professors and the employees of the state universities and even colleges and universities. Kasi medyo may comorbidities marami sa kanila above 35 years old, mayroon din d’yan about 60 years old and halos karamihan dyan mayroon ng maintenance medication, which makes them prone to COVID complications,” she said.

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