No shortcuts: Hontiveros says COVID vaccine safety must be first and only priority

The government should get the safest vaccine to help Filipinos combat the new coronavirus disease.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said safety should be the “first and only priority” of the government in its plans to acquire coronavirus vaccines from foreign suppliers.

The government is reportedly finalizing talks with Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech to secure 25 million doses of coronavirus vaccine by March. Concerns were raised by some groups about the supposed inefficient safety and efficacy data to back up the China-made vaccines.

In a Facebook post, Hontiveros reminded the Duterte government to make vaccine safety a priority. There should also be no severe side effects in taking such vaccine, she said.

“Before we declare preference of any vaccine, I remind government that the first and only priority should be SAFETY,” she said.

Bago subukan, dapat safe at walang malubhang side effect ang bakuna na ituturok sa ilang milyong Pinoy,” she said.

Hontiveros said there should “no shortcuts” in ensure the safety and efficacy of the COVID vaccines that will be purchased by the government.

“Bawat health standard at safety step ay dapat sundan. Hindi ito dapat madaliin. This stands for any and all possible vaccines: No shortcuts,” she said.

Let’s make it clear: The vaccine is a health solution, NOT a political favor. We should buy vaccines to protect our…

Posted by Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday, December 16, 2020

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