Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 20) — President Rodrigo Duterte has stressed the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 as the country records more cases of the more transmissible Delta variant.
“You must get the vaccine, or you die,” Duterte said during his weekly address.
Currently, the Department of Health recorded a total of 35 Delta cases, including 11 locally acquired cases. Of these, three patients died due to the variant, it added. However, the department admitted that there may be more cases linked to Delta since it has yet to step up genome sequencing efforts.
The President also cited a Pulse Asia survey that said more adult Filipinos, or 43% of the respondents, are willing to receive their coronavirus shot. This latest result is higher than February’s 16%.
Duterte then warned those who do not want to get inoculated.
“Kung ayaw talaga ninyong maniwala, eh ‘di wag na lang kayong lumabas ng bahay para wala kayong mahawa (If you really don’t want to believe, don’t go out of your house so you do not infect others)… if that is your state of mind, actually to me you are anti-social,” he said.
“Parang kang galit sa tao (It seems like you hate people). In face of the danger confronting you and knowing fully well that it is really dangerous, you choose the path of this resistance by not getting the vaccine at all,” he added.
The government has received over 27 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines as of July 17, of which some 15 million have been administered. Of the latter, over 4 million individuals received their two doses.
Vaccine supply is still a problem in many local governments, especially in the regions. However, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. assured that the country has “ample” supply, with 12.8 million doses as stock pile in different warehouses which is good for 32 days.
He also said that aside from the initial donation of 3.2 million vaccines, the United States — through the COVAX facility — will send 3 million doses more to arrive this July or August. The British Government has also expressed its intention to donate 415,000 doses of AstraZeneca to the country that will arrive this month, he added.
Meanwhile, distribution of China-made vaccines Sinovac and Sinopharm by the World Health Organization-led initiative may also start next month, Galvez said.
By year-end, authorities are aiming to immunize up to 60% of the target population by focusing in Metro Manila to achieve population protection.
