Incentives, disincentives eyed as govt ramps up vaccination targets

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 3) — The country’s pandemic response officials are batting for incentives for vaccinated persons and in turn, disincentives for those who have yet to get their COVID-19 vaccine shots.

“Enough na po ang ating supply at kailangan po talagang mas marami po nating mga kababayan ang makumbinsi nating magpabakuna,” National Task Force Against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon said during President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent public address.

[Translation: Our supply is already enough and we really need to convince more of our fellow citizens to get vaccinated.]

Dizon, who is also the testing czar, said he’s making the recommendation along with NTF chief implementer Carlito Galvez, Jr., Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.

The officials suggest following the “best practices” of the United States, European countries, and Asian nations like Singapore, Japan, and South Korea. Dizon noted that rules on vaccinated and unvaccinated persons are subject to “very strict” implementation there.

The NTF deputy chief said they will be presenting the proposal before the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, along with President Rodrigo Duterte, “in a few days.”

Some establishments and local governments have already been promoting vaccination by dangling benefits and perks, like discounts and free items. Some indoor activities have already been allowed in areas under the alert level system, but only to fully inoculated individuals and workers.

The proposal comes as the government announced higher targets for the national vaccine drive, with a new daily goal of administering 1 million to 1.5 million shots beginning Nov. 20.

Authorities are likewise targeting to vaccinate at least 15 million persons before the month ends, along with at least 70% full vaccination of the elderly population and 90% of teachers, students, and school personnel.

The government also eyes a 50% full vaccination rate for priority areas like Central Luzon and Calabarzon. Galvez also revealed they hope to activate up to 5,000 vaccination sites by utilizing malls, universities, schools, gyms, camps and function halls of various agencies.

The Philippines has administered over 60.4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to date. More than 27.7 million are now fully vaccinated against the disease, while 32.6 million have already received their first shot.