Marcos urges public to get vaccinated, take booster shots

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has urged Filipinos to get vaccinated and avail of booster shots to protect themselves from severe illness due to COVID-19.

The appeal was made by Marcos in a video that was uploaded to his social media accounts on Saturday, a day after he finished his seven days of isolation after contracting the coronavirus for the second time since 2020.

In his vlog, Marcos said he was no longer experiencing any symptoms of the viral disease.

He went on to say that if he hadn't been completely vaccinated and received a booster shot, his most recent COVID-19 infection might have been worse.

“Kukunin ko na rin ang pagkakataong ito para ihayag muli ang importansya ng pagbabakuna lalo na ang booster shot. Ito na nga ang pangalawang COVID ko na pero tingin ko kung hindi dahil sa vaccine at booster shot siguradong mas malubha ang naging tama ko at ng aking pakiramdam,” Marcos said.

(I'll use this opportunity to emphasize the importance of vaccinations once more, particularly the booster shot. This is my second bout with COVID-19, but I believe my symptoms would have been worse if it weren't for the vaccine and booster shot.)

He added that he only experienced a slight fever and itchy throat. 

Marcos, 64, first caught the illness in March 2020 after traveling from Europe. At the time, his camp said that Marcos visited a hospital because he was having breathing problems.

The President said that a massive campaign would be launched for booster shots and vaccinations with the help of the Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Education (DepEd).

“Preparasyon na rin ito sa pagbabalik ng face-to-face classes at pagluwag ng iba pang mga safety protocols. Kung magiging tagumpay ang kampanyang ito tuloy na tuloy na ‘yan,” Marcos said.

(It is also in preparation for the return of face-to-face classes and the relaxation of other safety protocols. If this campaign is successful, then we will be moving in that direction.)

He also directed the DOH to vaccinate 90% of the country's senior citizens within his first 100 days in office.

Marcos said there is no need to pass a law on mandatory vaccination.

“Hindi naman talaga kailangang isabatas pa ito dahil malaya pa rin tayong mamili para sa ating sariling kalusugan. Pero habang tumatagal ay mas lumilinaw ang sinasabi ng siyensya,” he added.

(We don't really need to legislate it because we can still choose what's best for our own health. However, as time goes on, it becomes clearer what science tells us.)

“Ang mga datos at pag-aaral na ang pagbabakuna ay malaki ang naitutulong para sa ating kaligtasan mula sa COVID-19. Maraming salamat sa inyong suporta. Magpabakuna na po at magpabooster shot na po para tiyak na tayo ay ligtas."

(Studies and evidence indicate that vaccination can protect us from COVID-19. Thank you so much for your support. Get vaccinated and get your booster shot to make sure we are safe.)

A total of 71.2 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated, while 15.4 million people have already received booster doses as of July 13, based on government data. —VBL, GMA News