SENATOR Win Gatchalian on Tuesday urged the government to build public confidence on its vaccination program, saying it is crucial in controlling the pandemic.

Vaccination is also the key to the resumption of face-to-face classes, the senator said.

“Magiging malaki ang problema natin kung walang magpapabakuna laban sa Covid. Hindi tayo makakabalik sa normal na pamumuhay,” Gatchalian said.

“Dapat nating tugunan ang pangamba ng ating mga mamamayan pagdating sa pagpapapabakuna upang matuldukan na natin ang krisis na ito,” he added.

Several surveys showed that Filipinos were hesitant to get vaccinated.

Gatchalian attributed this fear to the “Dengvaxia damage” which eroded the public’s trust in vaccinations.

The lawmaker said that if half of the population will refuse to be vaccinated, the transmission of the virus will not be suppressed.

For the basic education sector, this means a prolonged delay in the resumption of in-person classes for more than 22 million public school learners nationwide.

In Metro Manila alone, which is considered a virus hotspot, there are two million learners enrolled in public schools.

A recent nationwide Pulse Asia survey of 2,400 adults revealed that 47 percent of Filipinos would not get themselves vaccinated, 32 percent would get vaccinated, and 21 percent were undecided.

Of the 2,400 adults who joined the survey, 84 percent were worried about the safety of the vaccine.

A survey by the University of the Philippines-OCTA Research Group also showed that of the 600 polled, only 25 percent were willing to be inoculated.

The same survey revealed that 28 percent would not get the vaccine, while 47 percent were undecided.

Gatchalian emphasized the need to be transparent on the potential side effects of Covid19 vaccine shots and how these can be managed.