Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination still not likely in next admin —NTF adviser

Mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 is still not likely under the next administration, an adviser to the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 said Friday.

“Hindi pa siguro, 'no? Even mandatory vaccination. Kasi, as of now, experimental pa rin ang ating mga bakuna,” Dr. Ted Herbosa said at the Laging Handa briefing.

[Maybe not yet. Even mandatory vaccination. Because, as of now, our vaccines remain experimental.]

“In fact, ito nga ang statement ni [Health Secretary Francisco] Duque, no? Kailangan hindi naman tayo mag madali. Very important to analyze ‘yung data. ‘Yung data so kung ano ‘yung naging resulta,” he added.

(In fact, this is the statement of Secretary Duque. We don’t need to rush. It’s very important to analyze the data, what the results are.)

Meanwhile, Herbosa believes the transition to the new administration will be smooth as not all government personnel will be replaced.

“So i think it will be a smooth transition kasi hindi naman siguro papalitan lahat ‘yan at ang mapapalitan lang siguro diyan ay yung namununo,” he said.

(So I think it will be a smooth transition because not all personnel will be replaced and only the heads will be replaced.)

Herbosa said the whole of government response will also stay the same.

According to Herbosa, continuing the current administration’s vaccine program will be important in the first 100 days of the next administration.

“Ituloy pa din itong COVID vaccination, ano? Ito ang nag dala sa atin sa sitwasyon na meron tayo ngayon, Alert Level 1. Nakapag-hold tayo ng malawakang national elections because our cases were only 100 plus daily,” he said.

(Continue the COVID vaccination. This brought us to our current situation, Alert Level 1. We were able to hold national elections because our cases were only around 100 daily.)

He also expressed hope that the next administration will reach the government’s target of fully vaccinating 90 million of the population.

“I do hope ma-continue yung target namin na 90 million nung population ay may two doses at meron ding booster yung mga dapat makakuha ng booster. Ito ang pinaka-importante sa first 100 days nung next administration,” he said.

(I do hope that they continue our target of vaccinating 90 million of the population with two doses, as well as booster doses. This is most important in the first 100 days of the next administration.) —KBK, GMA News