Makati City Mayor Abigail ‘Abby’ Binay and the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that a healthcare worker failed to inject a COVID-19 vaccine to a netizen after a now-viral video made rounds online.
Over the weekend, a video of a woman who failed to get vaccinated caused panic online. Most sentiments were particularly focused on the possibility of experiencing the same circumstances.
Makati City Mayor Binay immediately issued a statement addressing the situation that raised concerns not just among Makati citizens but Filipinos living in other parts of the nation as well.
“It was human error on the part of the volunteer nurse that was immediately corrected,” she began.
The local chief executive of Makati clarified that the woman who posted the video eventually received its COVID-19 vaccine jab.
“Nabakunahan po ‘yung taong nasa video. Naintindihan po nya ang nangyari at sya mismo ang nagsabi na huwag tanggalin ang nurse,” she stated.
She also sought understanding from the public given the situation where the government is having a hard time getting vaccinators.
“We ask simply for the public’s understanding. Mahigit isang taon nang nagtratrabaho ang ating frontliners at sa totoo lang, napakahirap kumuha ng vaccinators ngayon,” she said.
Addressing those who have been maliciously spreading the videos without tangible evidence, she said: “Umaapela kami sa mga nagkakalat ng video. May nagbintang pa na nagbebenta siguro sya ng bakuna. Huwag naman pong ganyan, lalo na at wala naman kayong hawak na ebidensya.”
She further lambasted efforts to politicize the situation, saying it poses challenges in the local and national government’s vaccination efforts.
“Ang nakakalungkot rito, may bahid politika na rin. ‘Yung ibang nagkakalat ng video, tuwang-tuwa sa nangyari at ginagamit ito para siraan ang vaccination program ng national at local governments,” she remarked.
Appealing to show mercy and respect to the frontliners who have been tirelessly working from the beginning, she said: “Maawa naman kayo sa nurse na nagkusang loob na mag-volunteer ng kanyang oras para lamang mapabilis ang pagbabakuna sa ating mga residente.”
“Tao lang ang ating frontliners. Napapagod sila. Nagkakamali. Pero ang mahalaga, naayos agad ang pagkakamali. Humingi sya ng patawad, at sya naman ay pinatawad,” she said.
Encouraging everyone to take get vaccinated, she stated: “Kaya request ko lang, move on na tayo at ituloy ang pagbabakuna. Para pa-back to normal na ang mga buhay natin.”
Meanwhile, Health Secrerary Francisco Duque III assured that an investigation related to the issue being conducted.
“Sinisigurado po namin na ating iimbestigahan ang pangyayaring ito upang mapabuti ang ating national vaccination program,” he said on Monday, June 28.
“Sa pagdating ng mas maraming bakuna sa bansa, we will continue to improve our speed, scale, and quality of service,” he added.
“The Secretary of Health assures the public that this incident is being taken seriously and immediate improvements in the protocol shall be made to ensure we limit the chances of this from happening again,” the Department of Health said in its statement.
The Philippine government aims to inoculate 58 million out of the 108 million Filipinos to achieve herd immunity in the country.
