On Friday, February 19, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., admitted that the Philippines is behind in procuring Covid-19 vaccines.
“Ako po’y nahihiya dahil sabi nga, bakuna na lang ang kulang… Bilang the [lead] person to really procure and manage and get the best vaccine for all of us, nakita natin na talagang medyo nahuli tayo nang kaunti,” Galvez said.
The Philippines is indeed late with the acquisition of the vaccines. Bangladesh in January got the first five million doses of Covishield from India. While the Philippines is still waiting for it.
With each passing day, many get afflicted by the Coronavirus. As a result, celebrities and Netizens refute Galvez’s statement.
Former PBB housemate Justin Dizon disagreed with Galvez. According to Dizon, the Philippines is very much late in acquiring the vaccines. While other countries have the vaccines, Filipinos are still waiting for them.
“medyo nahuli tayo nang kaunti”
sir, huling-huli na tayo.
yung mga ibang bansa, umaarangkada na ang pagbabakuna pero tayo nasa procurement pa rin. https://t.co/paHv3EeWb9
— Justin Dizon (@iamjustindizon) February 19, 2021
With people eagerly anticipating the arrival of the vaccine, former health adviser Tony Leachon said on twitter that great leaders demand accountability for themselves. Due to the delay of the vaccine, the President must hold himself accountable for such hold-up.
Great leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.
They don’t speak ill of others ‘ opinion when presented with recommendations.They demand accountability for themselves.
The people are waiting. https://t.co/4pooi1Uzqc— Tony Leachon MD (@DrTonyLeachon) February 19, 2021
Forensic expert Raquel Fortun likewise disagreed with Galvez. The reason, as per Fortun, is that the government was in denial for a long time. Public officials claimed that they already contained the virus when in reality–they did not.
https://twitter.com/Doc4Dead/status/1362666822227517440
Sarcastically, Journalist Barnaby Lo said that the government is much concerned in addressing the franchise of ABS-CBN and continuous red-tagging people than procuring vaccines for the people.
Okay lang, may batas naman tayo para sa pambansang bati, at wala pa rin sa free TV ang ABS-CBN, at panay ang red-tag, at tuloy ang patayan. Mas importante lahat yan sa bakuna. https://t.co/HwMAgqIHo6
— Barnaby Lo 吳宗鴻 (@barnabychuck) February 19, 2021
With another failure from this Administration, Netizen @KatarHol5 wrote that the government is slow and incompetent when dealing with the pandemic.
Slow and incompetent https://t.co/icawjmoZDD
— Katar Lhal (@KatarHol5) February 19, 2021
Meanwhile, @smurfette017 said that the czar, who admitted that the country is ‘kind of’ behind in getting the vaccine, knows humility.
Marunong pala mahiya. https://t.co/X5L1h8gk99
— Ate Czarot, a different Filipino (@smurfette017) February 19, 2021
With Galvez practicing humility, Philstar Columnist Fedrico Pascual said that the czar should not be ashamed. Pascual then proceeded to ask, when Independence Day arrives, will the country be able to get vaccines that are not China-made.
Sir, huwag na po kayong mahiya. Palagay nyo po bandang June 12, Araw ng Kalayaan, meron na tayong maraming vaccine? Yung hindi po Made in China para safe? https://t.co/kYroQMOosD
— Federico Pascual🇵🇭 (@FDPascual) February 19, 2021
With the delay, Goyo Larrazabal blamed the whole country for acting late. Journalist Raissa Robles disagreed with him. According to Robles, Duterte was the one who acted upon the health concern late. Furthermore, his decision to appointing officials who were not qualified made the matter worse.
Not we, Sir, Duterte acted late. He appointed generals and Duque to be in charge of Covid fight. Even when they were already faltering, Duterte stood by them. https://t.co/vDygDgdQ8M
— Raissa Robles (@raissawriter) February 19, 2021
While waiting for the arrival of vaccines, the government has decided to conduct a vaccine simulation.
Barnaby Lo is infuriated as the Philippines is the only country to do a vaccine simulation.
Are we the only country in the world that’s simulating vaccination? Hindi ba parang… mukhang tanga? https://t.co/aVjVzOitIk
— Barnaby Lo 吳宗鴻 (@barnabychuck) February 18, 2021
Rather than conducting vaccine simulation and not quite admitting that the country is way behind the procurement of vaccines–the Duterte Administration should have a sense of urgency at this dire time. Many people are losing their lives every single day without vaccines. It is time for the government to prioritize this matter over anything else.
