March 29, 2024

The Department of Health is in favor of mandatory vaccination for sectors that are at most risk of getting the Covid-19.

“Definitely, if we are going to have this mandated for specific sectors only, DOH will also support because we need to do this so that we can achieve the protection for population,” Health Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

She said the proposal is still being studied, as a law must be passed first to make vaccination compulsory.

“The proposed mandatory vaccination is not to impose on certain sectors but on specific ones which are vulnerable. We’re still discussing those and we will heed the statement of the Department of Justice that a law is needed for that,” she said.

Vergeire said the government is exerting all efforts to encourage more people to get inoculated because they can still see some level of hesitancy among the public.

Among the factors influencing them are fear of side effects, brand preference, and getting swayed by misinformation circulating on social media.

“We will never achieve the immunity na kailangan ng population natin kung may mga sektor sa society na hindi mababakunahan, so isa sa tinitignan natin na paraan is to make it mandatory,” she said. – PNA