President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the government will study the vaccine against the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and the other new sub-variants.
Marcos made the statement at the “PinasLakas” vaccination campaign in Manila where he and his son Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos received their second booster shots.
"Now, I was just told by Usec. Vergerie, mukha namang meron nang ilalabas na vaccine para dito sa mga bagong variant ng Omicron. Kaya't pag a-aralan natin,” he said.
Marcos vows that if the vaccine were proven to be effective, they will exhaust efforts to bring the vaccine to the Philippines.
“Gagawin natin ang lahat para madala dito sa Pilipinas para maibigay natin sa lahat ng kailangan magkaroon ng booster shot,” he emphasized.
The President said the emergence of omicron and the sub-variants poses a threat to Filipinos’ health which is why he appeals again to the public to get their COVID-19 booster shots.
“Ang sinasabi sa atin ng mga dalubhasa, experto, mga researchers, dahil bago ang variant na ito ay kailangan para maging fully immunized ulit ay kailangan magkaroon ng booster shot. Kaya't ito ngayon ang kinakampanya namin na sana, lalong-lalo na dahan-dahan pabukas ang ekonomiya, ayaw natin mag-lockdown, gusto talaga natin matanggal na ang mask na protocol. Lahat yan hindi natin maabot yan kung hindi tayo magpa-booster shot ngayon,” he said.
On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a national public agency of the United States, placed the Philippines at level 3: “high risk” of COVID-19 due to the reported high cases.
CDC gave a warning to travelers going to the Philippines to update their vaccine cards and follow health protocols. Otherwise, they must avoid traveling to the country.
As of Aug. 16, the health department recorded 36,190 active cases.
The total COVID-19 tally nationwide is now at 3,838,062.
