Robredo warns 'brand agnostic' rule may dampen vaccine list-up

Filipinos would be discouraged to register for COVID-19 jabs if the local government units stop announcing the brand of vaccines people are getting, Vice President Leni Robredo warned on Sunday.

Earlier, the Department of Health made clear that recipients will be informed of the vaccine brand right before the jab.

This non-disclosure policy was implemented after vaccination sites in Parañaque City and Manila were troubled by excessively long lines of recipients forming for one brand of vaccine.

But in her weekly radio program, Robredo cautioned against the policy, saying that everyone has the right to choose a vaccine brand.

"May karapatan iyong bawat isa magdesisyon na iyong iturok sa kaniya iyong brand na mas may tiwala siya," Robredo said.

She said she understood the policy, but feared the possible backlash.  "Ako, naiintindihan ko kung bakit may panukalang ito pero iyong takot ko kasi baka baliktad iyong maging resulta."

Worse, she said, no one would get registered for vaccination. "Baka baliktad iyong maging resulta kung lalo mong ayaw sabihin iyong brand, lalong hindi nagre-register iyong mga tao."

Instead of non-disclosure of the brands, Robredo appealed to the government to focus on enhancing vaccine confidence of the public.

To quell vaccine hesitancy, Robredo said her office has decided to create an infomercial in February to conduct information dissemination on experiences in getting vaccinated.

Senator Joel Villanueva had proposed to Robredo and President Rodrigo Duterte to create an infomercial that would promote inoculation to the public. —LBG, GMA News