MANILA -- The recent national Social Weather Survey (SWS) showing a decline in vaccine hesitancy and skepticism among Filipinos is encouraging and is reflective of everyone’s cooperation in achieving high vaccine confidence among the people, said Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.
The SWS survey conducted from December 12 to 16, 2021 found that only eight percent (8%) of adult Filipinos are unwilling to get vaccinated, down from the 18% who were hesitant to get jabbed in September 2021. The recent result was much lower than the June 2021 survey that showed 21% vaccine hesitancy, and the May 2021 survey, with 33% of respondents saying they do not want to get vaccinated.
“Senyales ito ng matagumpay nating pagtutulungan, tayong lahat—kayo na nasa media na nagbibigay ng tamang impormasyon, and then of course government making sure na nandyan yung supplies sa lahat ng regions at ginagawa po natin ang lahat ng hakbang para maging accessible po ang bakuna sa lahat ng areas dito sa ating bansa, and of course, ang taong bayan,” said Secretary Nograles in a press briefing on Friday.
The Palace official also underscored the importance of everyone’s help and cooperation in convincing the remaining unvaccinated population to get jabbed.
Secretary Nograles urged the public to convince those they personally know who remain to be hesitant to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“Malinaw po na habang dumadami po ang nagpapabakuna at nakikita ng ating mga kababayan na mabisa at ligtas ang mga ito, anuman brand ito, bumababa po ang tinatawag na vaccine hesitancy,” said Secretary Nograles.
According to the National COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard, as of January 20, 2022, more than 56.8 million individuals are now fully vaccinated and 65 million have received at least a first dose of a vaccine. A total of 122,321,531 vaccine doses have been administered nationwide, as of January 20, 2022, including the 5.87 million booster doses administered.
Meanwhile, despite the availability of vaccines in the country, a significant number of individuals remains unvaccinated, prompting the national government and some local government units to impose mobility restrictions among the unvaccinated, such as the No Vax, No Ride policy.
Department of Transportation Undersecretary Artemio Tuazon Jr., a resource person during the briefing, reiterated that the No Vax No Ride policy is only being implemented in Metro Manila while the National Capital Region is under Alert Level 3, or if an area is under Alert Level 4 or 5. Usec. Tuazon also emphasized that unvaccinated workers who will be allowed to ride public transportation should belong to industries that are allowed to operate under Alert Level 3
In relation to the said policy, the Palace warned the public against false information regarding so-called COVID-19 "Vaccination Exemption Cards," which allegedly can be used by the unvaccinated to be exempted from stay-at-home orders and allow them to use public transportation.
“Hindi po totoo. Wala pong ganun. No document like this is being issued by government. Kung may mga taong mag-aalok sa inyo ng ganitong card, agad makipag-ugnayan sa mga otoridad sa inyong lugar at isuplong ang ganitong gawain. Pwede rin pong tumawag sa hotline 8888 para isumbong ang ipinagbabawal na gawaing ito. Maliban sa peke, hindi po ito nakakatulong sa ating laban kontra COVID-19,” said Secretary Nograles.
Further, Nograles emphasized that instead of looking for COVID-19 "Vaccination Exemption Cards," the government is encouraging those who remain unvaccinated to get jabbed.
“Ito ang alok sa inyo ng inyong pamahalaan: libreng bakuna kontra COVID-19. Dito ka na sa totoo. Dito ka na sa ligtas, epektibo, at libreng bakuna—anuman ang brand ng mga ito,” Nograles remarked.
Meanwhile, to help address the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country, Department of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire encouraged the public to wear face masks properly to give the wearer maximum protection, such as choosing face masks that provide maximum filtration, ensuring that the mask is properly fitted, changing masks regularly, and knowing the right information about mask wearing. (OPS)
