By LLANESCA T. PANTI, GMA News
Published April 16, 2021 6:12pm The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday clarified its statement accusing all media organizations of continuous disinformation on COVID-19 vaccines, saying that it was a general appeal to journalists to continue providing accurate information on COVID-19 vaccines and the pandemic. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire issued the statement in response to queries as to what prompted the DOH and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to issue a joint statement calling out “media institutions continuing to publish disinformation on COVID-19 vaccines and such misleading information on COVID-19 vaccines does more harm than good to Filipinos.”
By ERWIN COLCOL, GMA News
Published March 15, 2021 4:09pm Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday urged the public not to pass up an opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Sotto made the appeal as the country entered its first year on lockdown amid the continued threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the vaccines are available for distribution, don’t pass on the opportunity, get vaccinated. Let us be proactive in addressing the pandemic. You need to protect yourselves, Sotto said in a statement. And of course, let us not forget the basics – wear face masks and shields when in public places, observe social distancing and personal hygiene, he added.
By JULIA MARI ORNEDO, GMA News
Published March 15, 2021 1:24pm The Philippines has inoculated 193,492 health workers against COVID-19 as of March 13, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said this makes up 34% of half of the 1,125,600 doses that have arrived in the country. The other half of the doses is reserved for the health workers second dose. The DOH also said 90% of stocks have been distributed to vaccination sites. Duque lauded Metro Manila for achieving a high COVID-19 vaccination coverage. “Let me tell you that NCR has performed quite well, they’re now [at] 70% for the first dose of inoculation,” he said in a briefing following the launch of the European Union’s support to the country’s COVID-19 response.