Several Netizens, celebrities lambasted the Government and Senator Bong Go over the latter’s recent appeal for OFWs special vaccine allocation.
Go, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, recently appealed to Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. to allocate “appropriate” vaccines accepted in the OFWs country of destination.
According to Go, there are OFWs who are hesitant to get their jabs here because they may get inoculated by vaccines not acceptable in their destination.
“May ilan sa kanila na nag-aalinlangan na magpabakuna rito sa atin dahil may ibang mga bansa na naghahanap ng specific na brand, bagama’t napatunayan na namang ligtas at epektibo ang mga bakunang mayroon tayo
“They can no longer wait for the time when any brand of vaccine will be compliant in the different countries they go to. So if possible, let’s allocate a vaccine that is suitable for them, that is acceptable in their countries of destination. This must be done in compliance with requirements for vaccines coming from COVAX facility, as well as our own vaccine prioritization order,”
Thus, the Senator appealed that the OFWs should be given the brand which conforms to the country they will be traveling to.
“We expect about 10 million vaccines to arrive this June. So the brands that suit the conditions or needs of each sector, like the OFWs, must be allocated properly,” he added.
However, several netizens slammed Go’s statement saying with the current vaccine inventory of the country which is mostly composed of China’s Sinovac, deployment of OFWs may be greatly affected.
A tweet by former IATF adviser Dr. Tony Leachon, chastised the Government and the leaders’ seeming lack of foresight with regard to the vaccination program.
According to him with the country’s 66% Sinovac inventory, which is not accepted in many countries, OFW deployment may be delayed.
66 % of our vaccine inventory is Sinovac. Deployment of our OFWs might be delayed.
Being forward looking is one great attribute of a leader. https://t.co/AyRSyoAD63— Tony Leachon MD (@DrTonyLeachon) May 30, 2021
Former Kapuso host Kiko Rustia also slammed Go and the Government for using the OFW vaccine allocation for his personal political agenda.
Hindi ikababango ni Go yang ginagawa nyong paglaro sa buhay at kabuhayan ng mga OFW para lang magka narrative kayo na sya ang gumawa ng solusyon sa problema NA KAYO KAYO LANG DIN ANG GUMAGAWA.
Style nyo bulok. Basang basa na kayo ng bayan.
— kiko rustia (@kikorustia) May 30, 2021
Netizen Jonathan Sy, on the other hand, reminded President Duterte’s pronouncement about not being choosy with the vaccines available.
Duterte during his public addresses has slammed critics of the Government’s vaccination program saying they shouldn’t be choosy with the vaccines as the best vaccine is the one available.
Sabi ni Pangulong Duterte bawal choosy.
— Jonathan E. Sy (@easy_jonathan) May 28, 2021
Other netizens meanwhile blasted the government for pushing Sinovac rather than procure vaccines with the highest efficacy.
If only the Government listened to people’s clamor against Sinovac, such a problem should not be existent.
Hindi lang OFW ang pumupunta sa ibang bansa. Marami din mga Filipino ang bumibisita sa mga kamag-anak nla at turista sa ibang bansa kaya dapt available sa lahat ang vaccine na tanggap ng ibang bansa
— manx (@manX_77) May 30, 2021
https://twitter.com/ceebee_em/status/1398548833253040131
Ng “wastong” bakuna? So umamin din kayo na di wasto itong tinuturok niyo sa amin ngayon? Kaloka.
— Aling Sylvia Ster Stalong (@macronikki) May 29, 2021
gago kayong lahat, ipinipilit ninyo ang sinovac, o ngayun nananawagan kayo sa tamang bakuna, kubg umpisa pa lang tama binili ninyo di walang problema! tangina mo bing gago, gago gago ka! kayo ng amo mo!
— Tweeteebert (@Tweeteebert) May 29, 2021
