A public health expert on Sunday encouraged authorities to make three vaccine doses the minimum in order to entice more people into getting their booster shots against COVID-19
Dr. Tony Leachon said health authorities were not able to communicate properly the importance of having a third vaccine shot, which is why people are already satisfied with having two doses.
"Hindi natin nabigyan ng attention 'yung communication niyan," Leachon told DZRH in an interview.
(We were not able to give attention to its communication.)
"Tumigil kasi ang paniniwala ng tao na ang kumpleto na bakuna minimum ay dalawang bakuna. Dapat ire-define natin na at least three doses to protect us from developing Omicron," he added.
(People already believed the complete vaccination means two vaccine doses. We should redefine it to at least three doses to protect us from developing Omicron.)
According to Leachon, people's perception of getting a booster dose waned because they believe they were only getting encouraged to do so because vaccines are close to expiration.
"Sabi siguro ng mga tao, di kaya dahil ginugusto dahil mage-expire ang vaccine," he said. "Ganun ang messaging eh kaya tumatabang ang pagtanggap ng tao."
(People probably said: ‘Maybe they want us to get boosters because vaccines are close to expiring.’ That’s the messaging which is why people’s acceptance to boosters waned.)
According to the Department of Health, about over 14 million Filipinos received their booster shots as of May 29.
