Palace on free COVID-19 vaccinations: Filipinos can’t be choosy

Filipinos who will avail of the government’s free COVID-19 vaccinations cannot choose which vaccine will be used during the immunization campaign, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said vaccination is not mandatory but those who intend to forego the opportunity will be required to sign a waiver.

“Totoo po, mayroon tayong lahat na karapatan para sa mabuting kalusugan pero hindi naman po pupuwede na pihikan dahil napakaraming Pilipino na dapat turukan,” Roque said at a press briefing.

“Wala pong pilian, wala kasing pilitan. Pero magsa-sign ka ng waiver na hindi ka nagpaturok at kapag ikaw ay mayroong prayoridad, siyempre mawawala ang prayoridad mo, sasama ka doon sa the rest ng taumbayan na naghihintay ng bakuna,” he added.

The Philippines aims to vaccinate 50 to 70 million people this year. The government has so far secured commitments from three vaccine makers (Sinovac, AstraZeneca and Serum Institute of India) to supply the country with millions of doses.

Vaccine confidence though remains a challenge after only 32% of Filipinos said they are willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a Pulse Asia survey conducted from November 23 to December 2 last year. 

A near majority, or 47%, said they are not inclined to be inoculated.

Eighty-four percent of those who said they would not get vaccinated cited safety concerns as the reason for their unwillingness.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday said his department will use a "massive" information campaign to encourage Filipinos to get vaccinated against COVID-19, which has already killed 9,405 people in the country. — RSJ, GMA News