By Carlos Manuel Eusoya

PHOTO: ABS-CBN News

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque urged the public not to get vaccine booster shots, as other citizens have not received their first dose yet.

“Hayaan muna nating magkaroon ng population protection ang lahat bago tayo mag-booster shots,” he said in a press briefing last August 16.



Moreover, Roque told fully-vaccinated individuals that they should not go to other Local Government Units (LGUs) to receive additional unwarranted booster shots, as the Palace will not tolerate the act.

Furthermore, he said that LGUs should prioritize age groups who are susceptible to severe COVID-19 illness and attain population protection first.

Roque made the statement after two men in Quezon City were charged for getting Moderna and Pfizer booster shots despite completing two doses of Sinovac jabs.

“Hindi po natin kinukunsinti ’yaan dahil marami pa pong hindi nabakunahan,” Roque stated.

He also asked Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and seafarers to only get the vaccine brand their employers require, to save other vaccine brands for the general public.



“Kung kayo po ay isang seafarer na alam niyong kinakailangan niyo ng particular brand, huwag na po kayong magpa-inject ng iba pang brand. Kumuha na po kayo ng brand na nire-require ng inyong mga employers para sa ganoon maibigay naman natin ang ibang mga bakuna sa ibang mga nangangailangan din,” he ended.

As of August 15, 12,565,017 Filipinos have received the required two COVID-19 vaccine doses and 27,806,881 jabs have been administered nationwide.


Report source: Manila Bulletin