‘No vax, no entry’ policy pushes Filipinos to get vaccinated

Several Filipinos were encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19 after authorities disallowed unvaccinated individuals from entering malls and establishments under Alert Level 3.

According to Oscar Oida’s “24 Oras” report on Tuesday, Elsa Navarro was hesitant at first to get inoculated after some of her relatives had side effects.

She, however, decided to get vaccinated after the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) ordered unvaccinated residents in Metro Manila to stay at home unless they are buying and accessing essential goods and services under Alert Level 3.

“Kasi ang una nilang tinatanong bakunado na po ba kayo? Paghindi po, take out lang talaga. May discrimination talaga pagwala kang bakuna. Kaya ayun nag-decide na ako magpabakuna,” Navarro said.

(They will first ask if you are vaccinated. If not, they will not let you enter. There is discrimination when you are not yet vaccinated. So I decided to get vaccinated.)

Meanwhile, several locals trooped to vaccination centers in Quezon City.

“Nakakatakot po at nakakabahala yung transmission ng disease ngayon,” vaccinated resident Josimar Sienes said.

(The transmission of the COVID-19 today is frightening and disturbing.)

According to the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC), the number of individuals who will get vaccinated is expected to increase after fewer individuals were vaccinated during the holiday season.

NVOC Chairperson and Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said most of the unvaccinated expressed hesitancy to get inoculated during the holidays, adding that they are afraid to get sick or to have side effects.

She added that a lot of areas were also affected by Typhoon Odette.

Cabotaje said they expected that at least 1 million to 1.5 million would be inoculated against the viral disease per day this week.

The NVOC chairperson underscored that the “no vaccine, no entry” policy encouraged Filipinos to get their COVID-19 jabs.

“May mga responsibility kayo sa ating community and not only to yourselves para magtulong tulong tayo to keep the cases from coming,” she added.

(You have responsibilities to your community and not just only yourselves. We need to unite together to prevent the increase of COVID-19 infections.)

— Richa Noriega/ DVM, GMA News