Garin calls proposed vaccine order a 'mortal sin'

Former Health Secretary Janette Garin criticized a draft order that would restrict private companies from buying their own vaccines for employees, calling it a 'mortal sin' and arguing it undermines public health efforts and herd immunity.

Garin questioned who was behind the draft order, accusing unknown parties of manipulating the Department of Health and attempting to control DOH Secretary Francisco Duque.

The draft order, if implemented, would require the DOH and the National Task Force Against COVID-19 to review private firms' vaccine procurement requests to ensure they are not linked to industries like tobacco, liquor, or breastmilk substitutes, which are considered harmful to public health.

Garin emphasized that the draft should not be considered, as it could hinder the government's ability to achieve herd immunity and exacerbate the country's struggle against the virus.

The document specifically targets manufacturers in the tobacco, milk, sugar, soft drinks, and liquor industries, as well as multinational companies, suggesting they would be excluded from vaccine procurement agreements.

Garin raised the possibility of the existence of 'anti-vaxxers' in the government's own vaccination campaign, whose intention is to ruin and demonize vaccines in the guise of being anti-tobacco and anti-liquor.

Garin challenged those behind the draft order, asking if they could provide for the families of their employees during the pandemic and if they were willing to spend their entire salary to support them.

Garin argued that the government should focus on curbing the increasing number of COVID-19 cases rather than judging companies based on the nature of their work.

The Duterte government should not put a cap on the price of COVID-19 tests since it cannot provide testing for free.

Garin stressed that public health should be inclusive, emphasizing that discrimination should not take precedence over health.