Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7) — Nearly half of Filipinos said they would not get vaccinated against COVID-19 due to safety concerns, according to a poll conducted by Pulse Asia.
Of the 2,400 Filipino adults who took part in the survey, 47% said they do not want to be vaccinated even when doses are already available. Only 1/3 or 32% of the respondents said they are willing to be vaccinated, while 21% are undecided.
Concerns about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines is the primary reason 84% of the respondents who turned it down were not willing to get vaccinated. This sentiment was highest in Metro Manila with 89%, followed by Visayas with 88%. Others cited that it might not be given for free, or they might be charged with a high price for the drugs. Five percent think it is not needed to combat the coronavirus.
The nationwide survey conducted through face-to-face interviews from November 23 to December 2 has a ± 2% error margin at the 95% confidence level.
The Department of Health is working to allay COVID-19 immunization worries as the Dengvaxia controversy continues to threaten vaccine confidence in the country.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the level of transparency with the ongoing developments in COVID-19 vaccines is something that was missing during the making of Sanofi Pasteur’s dengue vaccine Dengvaxia. He cited that both positive and negative effects during COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials are reported by the companies, widely published by news outfits, and readily available online. He is confident the transparency in data will ease the public’s hesitancy towards vaccines.
