Top officials of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have expressed their willingness to be vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) to encourage the people to get inoculated.

“We know that the Holy Father and Pope Benedict XVI have been vaccinated. That’s a wonderful example,” Archbishop Romulo Valles, CBCP president, said during the virtual press conference of their just-concluded plenary assembly on Thursday.

Valles said he is also willing to be vaccinated in public.

“If the Holy Father and Pope Emeritus had themselves vaccinated and in my estimation, it helps, if people would see me publicly vaccinate, why not? People understandably have their fear of the vaccine and that is really needed. If our being vaccinated is a big help, why not?” he added.

CBCP vice president, Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, also expressed his willingness to get vaccinated.

“My answer to that is yes because we are partnering with our local government unit in this vaccination program. Anything that can allay the fears of the vaccine, we will offer in the church,” David said.

He also offered church facilities to become venues for vaccination activities.

“The bishops decided to offer, if needed, church facilities to be vaccination centers or facilities related to the vaccination program, especially in areas where they need auditoriums or schools. We can offer our church facilities to help in this massive, very complicated, and very challenging program of vaccination,” David said. (PNA)