PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, also chair of the Senate Committee on Health, on Wednesday, September 1, appealed to the government to study the possibility of expanding the vaccination rollout to include the remaining members of the general public who are not presently eligible under the vaccination priority list.

“Bilang chair ng Senate Committee on Health, umaapela ako sa ating gobyerno na pag-aralan na ang posibilidad na palawakin lalo ang ating vaccination roll-out sa mas maraming Pilipino maliban sa mga eligible na kabilang na sa mga priority groups,” he said.

“Hangga't kaya ng supply ng ating mga bakuna, baka maaaring buksan na sa publiko. Pag-aralan po dapat ito ng mabuti,” he appealed adding that some local government units have also made the same appeal.

Go also asked authorities to explore the possibility of providing incentives for fully vaccinated individuals in order to encourage others to overcome their hesitations.

“Pag-aralan rin po dapat nang mabuti ang pagbibigay ng insentibo sa mga bakunado tulad ng mas maluwag na mga patakaran. Maaaring pwede na sila kumain at pumasyal sa labas, makatrabaho, at makagalaw nang wala masyadong restrictions,” he said.

“Para rin po ma-enganyo at tumaas ang vaccine confidence. Yung mga pribadong sektor, may sarili ring mga inisyatibo tulad ng pagbibigay ng discounts. Welcome po ang lahat ng ito,” he added.

Go emphasized that the more Filipinos get vaccinated, the faster the country can return to normalcy.

“At kung patuloy na bababa ang bilang ng nagkakasakit at tataas naman ang bilang ng bakunado, mas mabilis po nating maibabangon ang ating ekonomiya at mas makakabalik po tayo sa normal na pamumuhay pagdating ng panahon,” he said

Go, however, assured that people belonging to the top priority groups who are still hesitant to be vaccinated or are unable to do so because of medical conditions should not be prejudiced and may always be given the priority should they decide to get inoculated or are given the go signal to safely get the jab against COVID-19.

“Kung ieexpand natin ang rollout sa publiko, dapat na walang prejudice naman ito sa kabilang sa mga naunang priority groups kung sakaling magbago naman ang kanilang isip dahil sa nag-aalinlangan pa sila ngayon. Pero kung merong ayaw magpabakuna na kabilang sa mga nasa priority list ngayon, ibigay na natin sa may gusto dahil habulan po ito. The bigger the population that gets vaccinated, the faster we can reach population protection and eventually herd immunity,” he also said.

“Alalahanin natin na bukod sa mga nasa A1 to A5 priority groups, mayroon pang groups B to C ayon sa ating vaccination program guidelines. Kasama pa rito ang mga guro, social workers, ibang mga manggagawa sa gobyerno at ibang mga essential workers na hindi pa kasama sa binabakunahan ngayon. Kabilang rin diyan ang mga OFWs na wala pang deployment sa loob ng apat na buwan at iba pang mga manggagawa na hindi kasama sa essential sectors. Kawawa naman ang mga naghihintay na gusto nang magpabakuna,” he stressed further.

Because of fears for the students, teachers and other school personnel, President Rodrigo Duterte prohibited the conduct of face-to-face classes until such time that a substantial number of the population is vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Paano tayo makapaghanda sa pagbabalik ng face-to-face classes pagdating ng tamang panahon kung ang ating mga guro ay hindi naman bakunado? Paano naman makakabalik sa kanilang trabaho ang ibang mga OFWs natin na naghahanda pa para sa kanilang deployment at hindi pa pasok sa four-month period? Paano naman ang ibang mga trabahante na patuloy na kumakayod para tumulong na maiahon ang ekonomiya at kanilang pamilya?,” he asked.

Earlier, Go appealed to the government to include overseas Filipino workers, particularly those about to be deployed, to be inoculated as soon as possible for them to be able to work abroad. The government included OFWs who have deployment within four months from the date of vaccination as part of the A4 priority group or the economic frontliners.

“Huwag po natin silang pabayaan at pag-intayin pa dahil baka maunahan pa ng COVID-19 ang pagbabakuna nila. Pabilisin na natin ang rollout para mas maraming Pilipino ang maproteksyunan. Tutal, tuluy-tuloy naman ang pagdating ng mga bakuna sa bansa.”

As of August 31, a total of 51.9 million doses arrived in the country since they first arrived early this year. A total of 33.7 million doses have been administered either as first or complete dose. Over 19.74 million Filipinos got their first dose while the remaining 13.95 million persons have completed their required doses.

Throughout the pandemic, Go successfully appealed for the inclusion of various groups in the vaccine priority group, such as athletes competing in the Southeast Asian Games and Tokyo Olympics, OFWs and Professional Regulation Commission personnel handling the licensure examinations. (OSBG)