Malacañang on Tuesday expressed confidence the country will soon return to normalcy, as more Filipinos are now heeding the government’s appeal to get vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In an online press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Covid-19 vaccination is key to the country’s full recovery from the pandemic.

“The vaccines are working po. Mahawa man eh parang ordinaryong sipon o flu ang nangyayari. So, sa akin po, importanteng magpabakuna tayo at saka importante rin po yung ating mask, hugas, at iwas (If [a vaccinated person] gets infected, they will only exhibit mild symptoms like ordinary flu. So, for me, it’s important that we get vaccinated, wear mask, wash hands, and observe social distancing),” Roque said.

Roque, who is currently in the United States, said the situation in Washington is now going back to normal for vaccinated individuals.

“Makikita niyo po na talagang ‘pag mataas ang vaccination rate, nakakabalik po sa normal na buhay (You can see that if the vaccination rate is high, you can return to a normal life),” Roque, who is already fully vaccinated, said.

In the Philippines, a total of 25,955,669 individuals have already been fully vaccinated, as of Monday.

Around 30,298,860 individuals have also received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Roque said the country could only “heal as one,” if population protection is achieved.

“Kaunting tiyaga na lang po. Kinakailangan lang maitaas ang vaccination rate sa buong Pilipinas. Bagama’t dito po sa Metro Manila na may pinakamataas na kaso ng Covid at pinakamarami ang populasyon eh nasa 85 percent na po. Kakayanin po kung talagang gugustuhin (We need to persevere. We have to have higher vaccination rate in the Philippines. The vaccination rate in Metro Manila, which has the highest Covid-19 cases and population, is already at 85 percent. We can do it if we want). We will heal as one,” he said.

The government has ramped up its vaccination drive against Covid-19 by expanding its rollout to minors.

The pediatric vaccination has already started in some hospitals and inoculation sites in Metro Manila.

Roque said the proposed nationwide vaccination of children would also be tackled in the next meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Thursday.

Roque also reminded the public to always wear face mask, wash hands, and observe social distancing to stop the further transmission of Covid-19 in the country.

“Kinakailangan ma-sustain po natin itong decline lalo na paparating na ang Kapaskuhan kung saan tumataas ang mobility ng mga tao. Iwasan din po natin ang tatlong Cs (We have to sustain the decline [in Covid-19 infections], especially since the Christmas season is approaching and we are expecting an increase in people’s mobility. Let’s avoid 3 Cs) — closed, crowded at (and) close contact settings,” he said.

The Philippines on Monday logged 4,405 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total case count to 2,762,307.

The country also reported 57,763 active cases, 2,661,602 recoveries, and 41,942 deaths. (PNA)