More study needed to implement ‘vaccine bubbles’ —Abalos

While supportive of the "vaccine bubbles" proposal, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos Jr. on Wednesday said more study and a vaccination target for the country's population are needed before enforcing such policy.

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Ma. “Joey” Concepcion III had reiterated his proposal to restrict movement for unvaccinated people while opening the economy for those fully inoculated.

Abalos dubbed the proposal as a "good idea" and a "flexible solution" that could address COVID-19 spike exacerbated by the Delta variant.

"On the bubble vaccine, it is a very good idea. To defeat the Delta variant... Let's be flexible, let's have a flexible policy. Let's change our mindset for once," Abalos said in an online forum of Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII).

Currently, the Philippines has only fully vaccinated more than 13 million Filipinos, which is far off its herd immunity target to inoculate 70 million of the country's population.

"When you talk of the bakuna bubble first, it goes without saying that humans reach a certain level of vaccination. Is it 50% and 60%? Because others will say, 'Look I want to get vaccinated but I don't have a chance to get vaccinated.' We must first talk about a target here," he said.

The country's vaccine experts should also study  the proposed vaccine bubble, he added.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III supported the idea but warned of legal impediments, which Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra cited.—LDF, GMA News