Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan stressed the need to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible to have a better Christmas this year.
The prelate hope that more Filipinos will accept the inoculations for the country to achieve herd immunity.
“Hopefully, before the month of December, at least 70 percent of the population will already be vaccinated,” said Bishop David, who is also the vice president of the bishops’ conference.
“Once we do that, we can already achieve herd immunity before Christmas. Thus, we will be able to celebrate Christmas more meaningfully,” he said in an interview with Radio Veritas 846.
The prelate renewed his call for vaccination after the city governments of Caloocan, Malabon, and Navotas sought help from the diocese for the vaccine rollout.
“They are asking that the Church mobilize additional doctors, nurses, and other volunteers so that they can speed up the vaccination program rollout,” said Bishop David.
In January, the country’s Catholic bishops have offered church facilities as vaccination sites.
As of June 27, the country has administered more than 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, 7.5 million of which were first doses.
