Two-thirds of the country’s population were willing to receive anti-Covid-19 shots, results of a nationwide survey released on Friday showed.
Of the 1,249 adult Filipinos who participated in the Social Weather Stations survey, only 31 percent expressed unwillingness to get the Covid-19 vaccine.
The SWS noted that Filipinos trusted the development of Covid-19 vaccines, which have yet to be completed, over the Dengvaxia dengue vaccine.
The Food and Drug Administration revoked the certificate of product registration of Dengvaxia in February 2019 after its French manufacturer, Sanofi Pasteur, admitted that the vaccine might cause severe symptoms in people who receive it with no previous dengue infection.
In the survey, 62 percent said the Dengvaxia should not be allowed for sale in the country.
Malacañang attributed the survey results to the public’s trust in the government’s anti-Covid-19 measures.
“We view this as a positive development as this means that more Filipinos trust the current government’s vaccination program,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.
The country’s vaccine roadmap aims to have every Filipino vaccinated. Approved by Duterte, it would prioritize poor Filipinos, healthcare workers and state forces.
On Thursday, Duterte approved the emergency use of Covid-19 vaccines, which would allow vaccines to be approved for use in the Philippines within 21 days instead of the six-month frame without the authorization. John Ezekiel J. Hirro