Malacañang on Monday said the holding of events to celebrate milestones in the country’s Covid-19 vaccination drive helped encourage more people to get their jabs.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this remark as the country marked the administration of over 30 million doses of vaccines. Of this number, over 13,000 are fully vaccinated.
“Wala pong masama na binibigyan natin ng importansya ang mga milestone. Hindi naman kami pupunta sa ganitong mga activities na wala tayong milestone na kinikilala (There is nothing wrong with giving importance to milestones like this. We are not attending activities like this if there are no milestones to recognize),” he said in a press briefing in SM City San Mateo.
Roque said such events are part of “effective government communication” to raise vaccine confidence among those who have yet to get their Covid-19 vaccine shots.
“Taking note of this milestone is a way of encouraging people na magpabakuna na rin (to also get vaccinated). Wala pong masama na ginagawa po natin (There’s nothing wrong with what we are doing),” he added.
He also emphasized that Rizal, where SM City San Mateo is located, is currently under the less restrictive modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) where social gatherings are allowed but on limited capacity.
Metro Manila, Laguna, and Bataan are also under MECQ until the end of the month but with more restrictive protocols.
“Of course we’re very cognizant po kung ano yung quarantine classification kung saan kami pupunta (of the quarantine classification of places we visit),” he said.
Meanwhile, Roque also defended the holding of inaugurations for new hospitals and hospital facilities that cater to Covid-19 patients.
“Yung mga inauguration naman po ng mga facilities dahil dapat naman malaman ng taongbayan kung saan napupunta ang kanilang pera lalung-lalo na pagdating sa ating mga hakbang na ginagawa laban sa Covid-19 (The inauguration of facilities are also being held so people know where their taxes go especially in steps being done to address Covid-19),” he said.
The national government eyes the complete vaccination of at least 50 percent of Metro Manila residents by end of August.
Currently, Roque said Metro Manila has finished vaccinating 43 percent of its target population. (PNA)
