Eleazar gets first COVID-19 jab; urges all PNP personnel to get vaccinated

by: NONETTE N. CASTILLO

CALOOCAN CITY, June 17 (PIA) -- Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Police General Guillermo Lorenzo T Eleazar on Tuesday took his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine allocated for PNP personnel under the A4 category in a ceremonial vaccination in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

In a bid to boost vaccine confidence among cops and the public, PGen Eleazar received his first shot of COVID-19 vaccine as the police organization started the inoculation of its personnel under the A4 priority group. 

Members of the PNP Command Group also got their first doses to convince all policemen of the safety of the vaccines and inspire them to get vaccinated.

“Bilang ama ng PNP, gusto kong ipakita sa ating hanay na epektibo po ang bakuna laban sa COVID-19. Lahat po ng bakunang aprubado ng Food and Drug Administration ay ligtas kaya’t huwag po kayong matakot na magpaturok nito,” PGen Eleazar said. 

“Mas magagampanan po natin nang maayos ang ating trabaho bilang mga front liners kung mababakunahan po tayo. Kailangan nating pangalagaan ang ating kalusugan mula sa coronavirus upang magawa natin ang ating mandato na magpatupad ng batas at proteksyunan ang publiko,” he added. 

The vaccine confidence rate among PNP personnel is at 92.76% according to PGen Eleazar who believes that the vaccination of police officers would also encourage civilians to get inoculated against COVID-19.

So far, the PNP was allotted a total of 500 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. More doses will be supplied to the police force as more vaccines are expected to arrive in the country in the coming months.

“Target po talaga natin na lahat ng ating personnel ay mabakunahan laban sa COVID-19. Magpapatuloy naman po ang pagdating ng mas marami pang supply ng bakuna sa mga susunod na buwan kaya’t nasisiguro kong magiging mabilis din ang pagbabakuna sa ating mga personnel,” PGen Eleazar said. 

Meanwhile the PNP chief urged his men not to choose the vaccine brand that will be administered on them. 

“Huwag na po tayong mamili. Ang tanging piliin lang natin ay ang maging protekado. The best vaccines are the ones that are already available to us. Let us all contribute to attaining herd immunity for everyone’s safety,” PGen Eleazar said. (PIA NCR)