PNP chief Eleazar receives first dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine as the agency begins the inoculation of police personnel belonging to the A4 priority group.

Eleazar led the ceremonial vaccination on Tuesday in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

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The PNP got 500 doses of Sinovac’s CoronaVac vaccine allocated for Command Group members and other senior police officers, members of the National Capital Region Police Office, Special Action Force, and Aviation Security Group.

Health Assistant Secretary Dr. Maria Francia Laxamana gave the vaccine to the PNP chief Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. also attended the event.

Eleazar said around 18,320 PNP officers had been vaccinated before the A4 group started its vaccination. These cops belong to the A1 (frontline health workers), A2 (senior citizens), and A3 (persons with comorbidities) categories.

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“That is 8% of our strength, but out of the 18,320, 63% diyan po is first and the second dose na,” he said.

Eleazar said 92.76% of the police force are willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

“As of the latest survey, 92.76% of our personnel, the total of 220,000, gusto magpabakuna but meron pa rin tayong 7.24% or mahigit 15,000 na nag-aalinlangan,” Eleazar said.

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PNP chief Eleazar receives first dose of COVID-19 vaccine

(As of the latest survey, 92.76% of our personnel, the total of 220,000, want to get vaccinated, but we still have 7.24% or more than 15,000 who are still hesitant.)

Eleazar thanked the Duterte administration for including the PNP personnel under the A4 category.

“Tayo ay nagpapasalamat sa ating pamahalaan, sa lahat ng bumubuo ng IATF, sa guidance ng ating Pangulong Duterte, sa kanilang effort para itong milyong bakuna ay makarating na sa atin,” Eleazar said.

(We thank the national government, those leading the IATF, the guidance of President Rodrigo Duterte for their efforts so that millions of COVID-19 vaccines will reach us.)

“Hindi lang natin ito obligasyon sa ating bayan kung hindi obligasyon din sa ating mga sarili at sa ating mga pamilya. Sa panahon ng pandemya na kung saan libre ang bakuna huwag na tayo maging choosy pa dahil nakasasalay dito ang kaligtasan mo at ng ating pamilya,” he added.

(This is not only our obligation to the country but an obligation to ourselves and our families. In this pandemic, wherein vaccines are free, let’s not be choosy with vaccine brands because our families’ safety and families rely on us.)

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