The Department of Health on Thursday urged health care professionals, both in the public and private sectors, to “spread the word” about the benefits of getting inoculated with the Covid-19 vaccine.

“We ask the help of medical societies to be our champions to ‘spread the word’, and we all know that you are all potential influencers because you are the experts in science and clinical practices, and patients believe in you, the confidence is there,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during an online town hall meeting.

Vergeire said the national government needed the help of all healthcare workers, who could serve as the voice behind the effort, “to improve and increase again the confidence of people in vaccines”.

The Philippines is expected to receive the arrival of Covid-19 vaccines by Pfizer/BioNTech and Sinovac by Feb. 20, as preparations of the logistical requirement for vaccine deployment are underway and ready by the end of the month.

The Food and Drug Administration has also granted the vaccine developed by Pfizer an emergency use authorization in the country.

READ: Consider vaccine efficacy to prevent severe disease: expert

National Immunization Technical Advisory Group member Nina Castillo-Carandang said the roles of healthcare workers in convincing the public to receive vaccination are important, especially at this time of national health emergency.

“Things are weird, the situation is very fluid. While we cannot force the people to vaccination, we can try our best to convince them,” Castillo-Carandang said.

“If we cannot even convince our healthcare providers of whatever position you have to have yourselves vaccinated, how much more can we convince the public to do so,” she added. (PNA)