President Rodrigo Duterte raised the possibility of making COVID-19 vaccination mandatory as the government intensifies its inoculation drive amid the threat of Omicron variant.
“Alam mo sa totoo lang, despite the opposition posed by some sectors in our society, it was really a good move to insist on vaccination. At hindi tayo nakinig d’yan sa sinasabi na you have your freedom to refuse,” Duterte told Health Secretary Francisco Duque who was present during the briefing.
“If you are going to an office (and) ayaw mo (magpabakuna), tapos you contaminate the whole of the office, eh ganito ‘yan eh. The mandatory, actually, vaccination can be insisted upon by the state on its people on the ground, using the police power of the state, meaning to say to compel you whether you like it or not because your continued refusal would really be a danger element,” he added.
Duterte might make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory
Duterte that if people refuse to get vaccinated, the law enforces could ask them to kindly stay at home and avoid putting the other people at risk of acquiring COVID-19.
“If you do not want to get vaccinated, we can always courteously ask you to do not go out of the house so that you will not be putting in jeopardy the rest of your neighborhood, the rest of your neighbors and everybody,” he explained.
Duterte admitted expressed concerns on the possibility of another surge due to the Omicron variant, noting the government’s funds have been depleted due to typhoon Odette.
“So tayo talaga sir, we have learned our lessons from the, I would say the failures of other countries. And that is why ‘yon pong kakasabi ninyo (ng) mask, hugas, iwas, bakuna, napaka-mahalaga po ‘yon Mr. President, araw-arawin po natin, gano’n po ang ating mensahe,” Duque reiterated.
“Ako if you ask me, all along we were correct in our stand,” Duterte replied.
On Monday, the Philippines recorded its third case of the Omicron variant. The patient was an unvaccinated returning Overseas Filipino Worker from Qatar but had a travel history in Egypt.
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