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| “We have not reached that point because we do not have enough vaccines. Why will we even think of making it mandatory when our supply cannot cover those who want to get vaccinated,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said in Filipino. (Photo by=Yancy Lim/ Presidential Photo) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] MANILA — Malacañang admitted yesterday that the government isn't prepared for mandatory inoculation of all Filipinos because of a shortage in supply of vaccines against COVID-19. “We have not reached that point because we do not have enough vaccines, PhilStar reported. Why will we even think of making it mandatory when our supply cannot cover those who want to get vaccinated,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said in Filipino.
Roque reacted to House Bill No. 9252, filed by Cavite Fourth District Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, which aims to amend Republic Act 11525, the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021. Section 3 of the bill states: “The COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021 shall be mandatory for persons as may be determined by the DOH (Department of Health) and shall be given for free at any government hospital or health center, and as provided in Republic Act No. 11525, PROVIDED, That inoculation must, at all times, be science and evidence-based.”
With only over three million vaccines deployed since March, Roque said the government is already having difficulty fulfilling its supplies this month, owing to a shortfall in deliveries. The Philippines has so far received vaccines from Sinovac of China and AstraZeneca from the World Health Organization’s COVAX Facility.
