Abalos: President's threat vs people who refuse to get vaccinated meant to stress danger of COVID-19

President Rodrigo Duterte's threat to arrest individuals who refuse to get inoculated against COVID-19 is meant to underscore the danger of not getting a vaccine, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Benhur Abalos said Tuesday.

Abalos was referring to the President's statement last night that individuals who will refuse to get vaccinated will face arrest and he will inject the vaccine on their respective butt.

"The Delta variant of coronavirus is 60% more transmissible, kaya iyong ganyang mga bagay nasasabi ng Pangulo (the President said it) out of frustration. I see it as a way to show Delta variant is alarming and the seriousness of the situation," Abalos said in a CNN Philippines interview when asked what does he think of such threat.

The Philippines has recorded 17 cases of Delta variant, which was first detected in India, so far.

Likewise, the President has also cited the presence of Delta variant to justify the mandatory wearing of face shield on top of face mask.

"Please think not only of yourself but also your community because variants of coronavirus emerge in areas where people do not want to get vaccinated," Abalos added.

He reiterated that registered COVID-19 vaccines in the Philippines are safe and effective so there is no reason to hesitate in getting vaccinated.

"In National Capital Region, not one died because of getting a COVID-19 vaccine. My father who is 87 years old even got vaccinated and he is well," Abalos said.

"So please, get vaccinated so that you will be protected," he added.

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

“It’s difficult to make vaccinations mandatory with an EUA vaccine. There still has to be an element of concern,” 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.

The Philippines has at least 12 million of COVID-19 vaccine doses so far. Of this number, eight million doses have been administered, with around 2.6 million individuals already completing the second dose.

The government is eyeing to vaccinate 58 million people in Metro Manila and its adjacent provinces, as well as Metro Cebu and Metro Davao to achieve herd immunity by the end of the year since these areas are densely populated and economic centers.—AOL, GMA News