TO INCREASE vaccine confidence among Filipinos amid concerns over the efficacy of vaccines in general, health experts cite the need for an information campaign. Indeed, the public must be educated about the whole vaccination process, particularly the COVID-19 vaccination which is the key to ending the current coronavirus pandemic.
To achieve herd immunity, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said the government aims to vaccinate 60 to 70 percent of Filipinos in three to five years. But this would be very difficult to achieve if there is widespread distrust. Here comes in the importance of educating people and the need to cascade the information about vaccination.
Yes, the important role of health units across the country, including those in the municipal and barangay levels, for the vaccination implementation cannot be overemphasized. It is good that the government has already started a “trainer’s training” to prepare the country’s health system for the vaccination program.
Also, local government units (LGUs) must plan their vaccination program, including storage and distribution, as it is crucial in the nationwide vaccination campaign. The vaccine developed by Pfizer has to be kept in extreme cold at minus 70 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, the Moderna vaccine needs to be frozen at minus 20 degrees Celsius, more like a regular freezer. The AstraZeneca needs to be kept between two and eight degrees Celsius, around the temperature of a regular refrigerator.
LGUs must have prepared funds for their vaccine purchases and they must work closely with the national government regarding their procurement. The limited global supply of COVID-19 vaccines is a major challenge so the Philippine government is negotiating with various suppliers. The government may issue an Emergency Authorization Use (EAU) to a vaccine brand to make it readily available for public use, so LGUs must be ready all the time.
The bottom line is this: We are not safe until everyone is safe. We are not all protected from the coronavirus if not everyone is vaccinated.
