COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy drops further among Pinoys —SWS poll

Skepticism on COVID-19 vaccines continues to wane in the Philippines, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted in December 2021.

Results of the survey conducted from December 12 to 16 showed that 8% of adult Filipinos say they do not want to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The number is down from 18% in September, 21% in June, and 33% in May.

Of the 8% who do not want to get vaccinated, 1% said they probably would not get vaccinated while 7% said they "surely" don't want to get the vaccine.

When it comes to places, the drop in vaccine hesitancy was lowest in Metro Manila, from 7% in September 2021 to 4% in December 2021.

In the Visayas, vaccine hesitancy dropped by 9% — from 24% in September 2021 to 15% in December 2021. In Balance Luzon, it fell from 15% to 8% and in Mindanao, it fell from 25% to 8%.

Meanwhile, the same survey also found that only 6% are uncertain about getting vaccinated, down from the 19% in September 2021, 24% in June 2021, and 35% in May 2021.

It also found that 50% of adults said they got at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"This total consists of 38% reporting they received two doses of the vaccine and 13% reporting they received one dose, correctly rounded," SWS said.

It noted that the percentage of those saying they got at least one dose of the vaccine has "steadily increased" from 10% (3% two doses, 7% one dose) in June 2021 and 35% (25% two doses, 10% one dose) in September 2021.

Of those unvaccinated, the survey found 35% willing to get vaccinated, consisting of 33% saying they will surely get vaccinated and 3% saying they will probably get vaccinated.

SWS said the survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews of 1,440 adults, subdivided into 360 each for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The sampling error margins are ±2.6% for national percentages, and ±5.2% for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao. —KBK, GMA News