Taking the cue from some local governments, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Friday that incentives may be given to speed up the COVID-19 vaccination program.
“We don’t see anything wrong with that. Nag-iisip na rin ang DOH ng additional incentives para makahikayat tayo ng mas maraming tao para magpabakuna,” Vergeire said in a briefing.
According to her, Health officials are contemplating on non-material rewards even as some local governments announced raffles with costly prizes.
“Pag nagsabi tayo ng incentive, hindi lang po ito iyong materyal na insentibo katulad ng nagbibigay po tayo ng pagkain o di kaya nagbibigay tayo ng mga papremyo,” she said.
Meanwhile, at least two members of the Senate also backed the vaccine-for-reward scheme on Friday.
“Maganda naman po iyon. Kanya kanya naman po tayo ng paraan ng pageenganyo sa kababayan natin,” said Senator Bong Go.
“We should use all legal – and creative – means possible to have every Filipino vaccinated,” Senator Ping Lacson said in a statement.
