Robredo prefers testing, vax sites in transport hubs, too

Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday said the public should also avail of the COVID-19 test and vaccines in transportation hubs such as train stations and bus terminals, following the government’s move to allow seven pharmacies and clinics to administer COVID-19 jabs.

In an interview with ANC, Robredo commended the measure which permits eligible individuals to get their primary doses and booster doses at selected private clinics and pharmacies, but stressed that this measure could have been done earlier.

She said that testing and vaccination sites must still be added and be made accessible down to the barangays and even transportation hubs, also considering the recent implementation of the “no vaccination, no ride” policy.

“Siguro sa malalapit sa transportation hubs, sa mga terminals, sa mga LRT at MRT stations, baka dapat accessible din ‘yung swabbing at saka vaccination. Kasi, these are where the people conglomerate eh and wala nang necessity for them to miss work,” she said.

(Maybe the swabbing and vaccination sites could also be accessible in transportation hubs, in terminals, and LRT and MRT stations. These are where the people conglomerate and there’s no necessity for them to miss work.)

This statement was made after the government started barring the unvaccinated people from boarding public transportation vehicles on Monday, January 17.

However, after a public outcry, government officials on Tuesday clarified that the workforce is exempted from the said policy as they render essential services.

This then creates another round of confusion to the commuting public, said Robredo, a presidential aspirant in Eleksyon 2022.

“This conversation cannot even be considered until after the government has already exhausted all possible means to bring vaccines to the people,” she added.

She noted that more people might want to get vaccinated if there are more vaccination sites instead of them being just centralized and less accessible.

Robredo also stressed again the importance of giving incentives to the vaccinated and running a proper communication and behavioral change campaign instead of punishing those who are yet to get their COVID-19 jabs.

No comparison

Further, Robredo approved when asked if she thinks the Department of Health’s (DOH) COVID-19 home care kits are a sign of improvement for the Department.

“Hindi dapat minamaliit [we should not underestimate] any initiative that will bring good to the people. Hindi na dapat pinagkukumpara [These should not be compared],” she said.

The DOH “Kalinga” kits are set to be given to the most vulnerable families and individuals who are undergoing home isolation.

The Office of the Vice President has also been offering Bayanihan E-Konsulta, a telemedicine platform, since the onset of the pandemic. It provides free COVID-19 care kits to infected individuals. — RSJ, GMA News