Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista encouraged beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Social Pension, and other services of the Department to take advantage of the government’s vaccination efforts against the COVID-19.

The DSWD chief said that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe as these have been approved by experts globally and locally.

Given free, the Secretary also stated that getting vaccinated is the best protection to safeguard themselves and their families from contracting the coronavirus.

Secretary Bautista added that the DSWD continues to coordinate with and assist the Department of Health in cascading the necessary and relevant information regarding the vaccination program of the government. Through this effort, the program beneficiaries are provided with the right information to guide them in arriving at their informed decisions about the vaccination. The DSWD program beneficiaries are categorized under A5 priority  in the government’s vaccination list.

The Secretary further encouraged the program beneficiaries to coordinate with their local health providers for their questions about the vaccination program.

He also reminded them to always observe minimum health protocols such as wearing their face masks and face shields; sanitizing their hands; and, practicing social distancing from other people.

The DSWD is one with the rest of the bureaucracy in the goal of mass vaccination for population protection. ###