Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 20) — A former adviser for the Inter-Agency Task Force on Thursday said people must be immediately informed about the brand of vaccine they are getting when they register for their shots, not later at the inoculation sites.
“Dapat hindi inaanunsyo in public but they should announce it kapag nag-register iyong mga tao online para alam naman nila kung ano iyong bakuna na makukuha nila at hindi masasayang iyong pagpunta nila sa vaccination center,” Dr. Tony Leachon told CNN Philippines’ Balitaan.
[Translation: The brand that people will get should not be announced in public, but it should be disclosed upon registering online for vaccination so they will know what they will be receiving, and their visit would not be futile.]
Leachon was reacting to the recent Interior Department’s directive to local governments not to make advance announcements on brands available at vaccination sites, following the Department of Health’s recommendation, to beat “brand preference.”
The DILG said people will be informed of the brand they will get on-site, where they must give their informed consent before receiving a particular shot. Individuals can refuse to be injected with a vaccine from a specific brand, but they have to go to the “back of the line,” it said in a statement.
The DILG directive was issued after people reportedly swarmed a vaccination site in Manila and another in Parañaque upon learning that Pfizer vaccine doses would be given out in the inoculation centers. The Manila and Parañaque governments made advance announcements to the public that Pfizer vaccine doses would be given out in the two centers.
Leachon also suggested that the DOH ramp up its vaccine education efforts so more Filipinos will take the COVID-19 vaccine regardless of the brand.
Senator Joel Villanueva said one “effective” way of convincing Filipinos that vaccines are safe is a joint public service announcement from the President and the Vice President.
