Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion is urging teachers and other school personnel to get their booster shots against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) as face-to-face classes will start next week.

During the Laging Handa public briefing Tuesday, Concepcion said taking the extra jabs after the first two doses of Covid-19 vaccines will help in preventing congestion of healthcare facilities due to coronavirus as vaccines avert severe conditions of the disease.

“We really want to encourage the teachers and staff in school systems to get their booster shots,” he said.

The private sector, led by Go Negosyo, launched the “Isa Pa” Covid-19 booster shot campaign, encouraging Filipinos to stay protected from threats of the pandemic by getting extra jabs after the primary Covid-19 vaccines.

“(W)e want to make sure that there is no chance at all for hospital capacity to be affected, make sure that hospitals continue to be at low utilization rates to make sure that there will be no lockdowns. Kasi syempre mas maraming kabataang lalabas ngayon kasi babalik na ang eskwela. Syempre tataas ang risk (Because of course, more young people will go out now to go back to school. Of course, the risk will increase),” Concepcion added.

The private sector’s “Isa Pa” booster drive supports the administration’s “PinasLakas” campaign, which targets to give booster shots to at least 50 percent of the eligible population during the first 100 days of the Marcos administration.

This, as turnout for booster shots remains low.

According to the Department of Health, of the 71.4 million Filipinos who completed their first two doses, 15.7 million individuals have received their first booster shot and only 1.1 million have taken the second booster.

Both the public and private sectors encourage Filipinos to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and take the extra shots as the vaccine wanes after four to five months, decreasing one’s protection against the virus. (PNA)