'Difficult' to make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory, says expert

It is “difficult” to mandate the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19 since the available vaccines are still under emergency use authorization (EUA), an infectious disease expert said Tuesday.

“It’s difficult to make vaccinations mandatory with an EUA vaccine. There still has to be an element of concern,” Dr. Edsel Salvaña, who is also a health department advisor, said in an interview on ANC.

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

“As a doctor, I would rather that people understand why they need to get vaccinated -- not just to protect themselves but to protect other people,” Salvaña added.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday threatened to arrest people who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Duterte has repeatedly used the threat of detention to enforce compliance with health protocols, including the wearing of face masks and the ban on mass gatherings. 

Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination stirred discussions earlier this year after a lawmaker sought to require inoculation for eligible individuals. 

Both the Department of Health and Food and Drug Administration said people cannot be mandated to get a COVID-19 vaccine yet as the shots are still under development. 

The World Health Organization has also said that persuading the public to get vaccinated is better than making the jabs mandatory. 

Over 6.2 million individuals in the Philippines have been vaccinated as of June 20. The government aims to inoculate 50 million to 70 million people this year. —KBK, GMA News

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/792328/2-1-million-filipinos-now-fully-vaccinated-against-covid-19-doh/story/