Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio clarified that a person will not be penalized if he or she refused to get vaccinated from Covid-19.
She issued the statement after reports or public fear of vaccination because of real or perceived risks associated with immunization.
The fear escalated after reports of 29 people above the age of 75 who reportedly died in Norway after getting vaccinated for Covid-19.
“Voluntary man ang vaccination program sa Pilipinas so kung dili magbakuna ang tao there is no penalty or silot na ihatag sa iyaha,” the mayor said in a live broadcast interview on Monday.
The people’s refusal may also lead to lower vaccination coverage and loss of herd immunity.
“Kung mu refuse dili ma-achieve ang herd immunity. Bisan pa dili nato maabot ang herd immunity dili ghapon ta puwede mupugos ang isa ka tao nga mu refuse magpabakuna. Dili nato puwede sila basta na lang birahon ug ipabakuna,” she said.
The city has recently inked deal with British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. The mayor earlier said that the city targets to immunize 1.2 million Dabawenyos to achieve the herd of immunity in Davao City as recommended by experts.
Mayor Sara said the solution that is need to be implemented to ensure high vaccination coverage is to have a massive information drive.
“Solusyon ana is enksato ug tamang pagpasabot sa mga tao kung unsa ang bakuna and unsa ang benefits kung mapabakuna sa imoha, sa imong pamilya ug sa community,” she said. Maya Padillo
