Bishops are willing to use the facilities of Catholic churches as COVID-19 vaccination sites, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said this Thursday.
According to CBCP President Archbishop Romulo Valles, the bishops decided on this in their 2-day virtual plenary assembly.
“The bishops decided to offer, if needed, church facilities to be vaccination centers or facilities related to the vaccination program,” Valles said at a press conference regarding the assembly.
Some executives of CBCP also said they are willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in public to alleviate the public’s fear of getting the vaccine.
Valles he would be willing to receive any COVID-19 vaccine considering the urgency of the situation.
During the assembly, molecular biologist Fr Nicanor Austriaco allegedly gave a presentation about the vaccine.
“If I can wait, then I’ll wait for a good vaccine. But if the situation really like it is now, you cannot wait for a better vaccine, I would take any vaccine offered,” Valles said.
CBCP vice president Bishop Pablo Virgilio S. David said that Austriaco urged the bishops to get vaccinated in public to increase the public’s confidence in COVID-19 vaccines.
Churches can be used as COVID-19 vaccination center: CBCP
“Father Austriaco encouraged the bishops to allow themselves to be vaccinated publicly perhaps even on television so that we can encourage people and remove their fears of vaccination. This is really going to be very helpful for us as a country,” he said.
“It is important to depoliticize vaccines that we listen to our scientists and what their advice would be,” he added.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier noted the impact of religious groups in encouraging Filipinos to get vaccinated.
“Napakalaking advantage po ‘yun dahil alam po natin napaka-impluwensya ng ating mga religious (sector) and it will give more confidence to our people to take the vaccines,” Galvez said.
According to a survey conducted by OCTA Research, only 25% of Metro Manila residents want to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Meanwhile, a Pulse Asia survey showed that 47% of Filipinos were not willing to get a COVID-19 jab, mostly due to safety reasons.