House bill seeks mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for eligible persons

A measure seeking to make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for eligible individuals has been filed at the House of Representatives.

In House Bill No. 9252, Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr. said a mandatory mass COVID-19 inoculation campaign is “imperative” to achieve herd immunity.

“This can only be achieved by enacting legislation to mandate and promote COVID-19 vaccination, address vaccine hesitancy, and instill public confidence in the personal, family, and community benefits of immunization. It will be tragic if we have safe and effective vaccines available but people refuse to take them,” the explanatory note read.

The bill exempts people who have been determined by the Department of Health (DOH) or a licensed doctor to have certain medical conditions that make them unfit for COVID-19 vaccination.

It also seeks the issuance of a vaccine card, but stressed that vaccinated individuals “shall not be considered immune from COVID-19, unless otherwise declared by the DOH based on reliable scientific evidence and consensus.”

The measure also aims to have a “nationwide print, radio, television, and social media campaign as well as person-to-person counselling” to educate the public on the importance of COVID-19 vaccination and possible side effects.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte has no position on the matter yet but added that inoculation against COVID-19 will remain voluntary for now.

The DOH also said the World Health Organization does not recommend making COVID-19 vaccination mandatory, especially since the jabs are still “developmental” and only allowed for use under an emergency authorization.

The agency underscored, however, that the benefits of vaccines outweigh the possible risks.

The Philippines has only received over 3.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses so far, more than 1.5 million of which have been administered to health workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities.—AOL, GMA News