Malacañang said that there’s no need to make the COVID-19 vaccination mandatory yet.
Malacañang on Monday said that there’s no need to make the COVID-19 vaccination mandatory yet since the vaccine supply in the Philippines remained scant.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in his regular press briefing that there’s no need to make vaccination mandatory yet since the COVID-19 vaccine supply in the Philippines was still too low, although the State has the authority to require people to get inoculated against the coronavirus disease.
“Bilang isang abugado, kabahagi ng police power ng estado ang i-require ang bakuna kung talagang kinakailangan pero sa ngayon naman mukhang hindi naman kinakailangan mandatory yan dahil hinihintay pa natin ang bulto ng ating mga bakuna,” Roque said.
Roque issued the remark after Cavite 2nd District Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. filed a bill in the House of Representatives requiring individuals to be inoculated against the coronavirus disease in order to address vaccine distrust in the Philippines.
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Under House Bill No. 9252, individuals who refused to get inoculated cannot “enter, convene, or occupy public places” whether government or privately-owned.
Those with medical conditions who were discouraged by their doctors to receive a vaccine will be exempted from the coverage of the proposed law.
However, Roque clarified that the President had not yet taken a position on the proposed measure. According to him, vaccine confidence was up but vaccine supply was short.
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