ADVERTISEMENT

News

Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination a 'difficult proposition' —FDA chief

By JULIA MARI ORNEDO,GMA News

Making COVID-19 vaccination mandatory is a “difficult proposition” especially since the vaccines that have been rolled out so far are still under emergency use authorization (EUA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Eric Domingo said Tuesday.

“Very debatable ‘yan because this is really personal autonomy,” Domingo said in an interview on ANC.

Domingo pointed out that COVID-19 vaccines are only allowed for use under an EUA, meaning “the vaccine is not yet fully developed.”

An EUA is issued for drugs and vaccines during a public health emergency.

“Merong mga side effects pa ‘yan na hindi natin alam eh so medyo tricky na ‘yung making vaccination compulsory, pero making a vaccine under EUA compulsory, that’s even a little more complicated for me,” Domingo said.

“That’s a very difficult proposition.”

The Department of Health has also said that the public cannot be required to get inoculated against COVID-19 since the vaccines are still “developmental” but stressed that their benefits outweigh possible risks. 

ADVERTISEMENT

A bill seeking to make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for eligible individuals has been filed at the House of Representatives as part of a bid to achieve herd immunity. 

Malacañang said President Rodrigo Duterte has no position on the matter yet, adding that COVID-19 vaccination will remain voluntary for now. 

Over 1.3 million individuals have been inoculated in the Philippines as of April 20. —KBK, GMA News