Pres. Duterte Speaks to Anti-Vaxxers Filipinos
DUTERTE – Amid the threat of Omicron, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte gave a message to Filipinos who are refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.
Recently, a variant of concern was recorded in South Africa. Initially called B.1.1.529, the World Health Organization (WHO) named the said variant “Omicron”.
WHO warned countries to prevent the entry of Omicron as it might have the capacity to cause a surge in the COVID-19 cases. Several nations abruptly tightened their borders to countries that have recorded cases of this variant of coronavirus.
In the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) said that the entry of Omicron is just a matter of time. The country is currently implementing travel bans on travelers from several nations including South Africa, Belgium, and Switzerland.
In a recent meeting with the National Task Force Against COVID-19, Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte gave a message to Filipinos who refuse to get vaccinated against the COVID-19.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Pres. Duterte said that there are just two (2) choices – “early demise or live longer”. He stressed that the capacity of Omicron is still unknown and it might bring severe scenarios.
According to the 76-year-old President, as part of the government, he would approve it in case the task force would decide to make the COVID-19 vaccination mandatory citing that it is for “public health”. He expressed that it is “unfair” is the unvaccinated people would spread the virus.
Currently, the Philippines is holding a 3-day National Vaccination from November 29, 2021 to December 1, 2021. The drive targets to vaccinate nine (9) million Filipinos in three days.
The Department of Health (DOH) already gave a go signal to the giving of the COVID-19 booster shots to fully vaccinated healthcare workers. The giving of booster shots to senior citizens and those who have co-morbidities, the A2 and A3 categories, have also started.
READ ALSO: Duque on Omicron’s Entry in PH: “Not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when”
