SWS: 35% of Filipinos unsure of getting COVID-19 vaccine, higher than those willing at 32%

More Filipinos are unsure of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 for free than those who are willing to get it and those who don't, based on the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

The survey, conducted from April 28 to May 2, 2021, shows 35% of Filipinos are unsure of getting a COVID-19 vaccine, 32% are willing to have it, 33% don't want it.

The survey asked the question, "If you have a chance to be given a free vaccine that can prevent COVID-19 which has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or FDA, would you surely get vaccinated; probably get vaccinated; be unsure about getting vaccinated; probably not get vaccinated; surely not get vaccinated?"

Of the 35% who said they are uncertain whether they will get a COVID-19 vaccine, the leading reason is being afraid of side effects at 39%, followed by the vaccine being not safe and effective at 21%.

Other reasons for vaccine hesitancy include:

• worrying that they might die/reports of fatality at 11%
• being afraid/distrust on the vaccine at 11%
• having comorbidity/being too old at 11%
• hearing negative feedback about the vaccines at 6%
• worrying that they might get sick/get infected with COVID-19 at 3%
• being healthy/being not sick at 2%
• dislike of vaccine/no need of vaccine at 1% and
• other reasons at 1%

The survey also showed that 1% of the respondents did not have an answer as to why they are hesitant to get a vaccine.

Meanwhile, of the 32% who said they are willing to get inoculated, 23% said they will surely get vaccinated while 9% said they will probably get vaccinated.

As for the 33% who do not want to get vaccinated, 26% said they were sure they were not going to get vaccinated while 7% said they were probably not going to get vaccinated.

The SWS poll used interviews of 1,200 adults aged 18 years old and above. Of the total number, 300 each were interviewed in Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The sampling error margins are ±3% for national percentages and ±6% for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The SWS survey was conducted two months after the government started its COVID-19 vaccination program and released on the same day President Rodrigo Duterte ordered local government units not to announce the vaccine brand ahead of the vaccination day. 

The government instituted the "brand agnostic" policy after the Manila and Parañaque rollout of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines—found to have an efficacy rate of 92% to 95% after human trials by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—drew crowds even if Chinese-made Sinovac vaccines are also available.

Based on Philippine FDA evaluation, Sinovac’s efficacy rate is 65% to 91% for ages 18 to 59 and 51% for elderly and health workers.

Giving a vaccine to an individual also required informed consent, including vaccine brand and its safety and efficacy profile.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has been repeatedly saying that all vaccines granted emergency use authority by the FDA are safe and effective and as such, there is no need to be conscious of the brand.

The Philippines needs to vaccinate at least 58 million or 70% of the population in COVID-19 hotspot areas to achieve herd immunity by end of the year. --KBK, GMA News