PAPO extends support to government's vaccination campaign

Patients’ groups join call for mass vaccination

MANILA – The Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations (PAPO), a group composed of 38 patient associations in the country, launched their “Bakuna, Now Na” campaign hoping to increase vaccination awareness and reduce hesitancy and help control the pandemic which has afflicted nearly 1.3 million Filipinos.

The “Bakuna, Now Na!” campaign is both an information and education advocacy to increase vaccine acceptance. During its virtual launching shortly before midday today, a Unity Statement was read with partner groups calling on everyone to get vaccinated soonest.

“The pandemic made Filipino patients more vulnerable to sickness and hardships. We urge all Filipinos, including patients and their families, to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect ourselves and others from this potentially life-threatening illness,” said PAPO President Ma. Fatima Lorenzo.

Karen Alparce-Villanueva, PAPO Treasurer and Campaign Project Lead said they hope to inform patients and the general public that vaccines are safe and effective after having gone through regulatory approvals and scientific research.

“We are stronger and healthier together, which is why we are calling on everyone to get vaccinated,” she said.

DOH – Health Promotions Bureau Director Beverly Lorraine Ho said they are pleased to partner with PAPO to increase vaccine confidence and get more people vaccinated soonest.

“We continue to call on patients and our senior citizens to get themselves vaccinated because vaccines are one of the proven ways we could prevent this pandemic,” Dr. Ho explained.

DOST’s Dr. Nina Gloriani, chair of the Vaccine Expert Panel also attended the launch.

The campaign is in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Medical Association (PMA).(Melo M. Acuñ