AT THE SECOND hearing of the Senate Committee of the Whole on the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program on Jan. 15, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) was asked to detail the vaccine roll-out plan after some government officials released conflicting information to the public. Clarification is badly needed due to the different numbers of vaccines and the different vaccination schedules that have been bandied about.
There are no clear figures as to how many doses would be delivered for use next month. The IATF must be transparent in updating the public on the vaccine roll-out effort, including the targets and the list of resources to be used for it. These should serve as key indicators of success or failure of the vaccine roll-out.
This unclear vaccine roll-out does not inspire confidence. So wonder no more that a recent survey showed 47 percent of the country’s population is averse to COVID-19 vaccination while 27 percent is undecided.
How do we convince these people unwilling to be vaccinated?
The government should not settle for pwede na or passing efficacy and safety standards. Scientific evidence should be the only basis for the use of vaccines. While we appreciate the donation of 500,000 Chinese vaccines, this should not pressure the Food and Drug Administration to approve its use. Science, data and the results of clinical trials should be the basis and not political goodwill.
On the separate vaccine roll-outs of local governments and the private sector, best practices must be used as template and basis for giving additional resources to government officials who know the reality on the ground.
We should learn from the slow COVID response over the past 11 months, including delays in the supply of personal protective equipment and testing kits. The national government must effectively engage with dynamic local government units and the private sector which could be tapped, given the dismal government performance in addressing the pandemic and its effects over the last 11 months.
The need for transparency and informing the people of important decisions regarding the vaccination program cannot be overemphasized.
And yes, we are not settling for second best vaccines.
