PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the vaccination of the general population against COVID-19 in October, according to Malacañang.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday, September 28, said that the chief executive gave his approval to the recommendation of National Task Force Against COVID-19 and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. to start vaccinating the general population next month.
“Ang good news po, inaprubahan na po ni Presidente ang pagbabakuna sa general population simula po sa buwan ng Oktubre (The good news is the President has approved the vaccination of the general population starting in the month of October),” he said in an online briefing.
Roque also said that inoculating minors would start in October, urging parents to participate in the master listing of their children for COVID-19 vaccination.
“Magsisimula na rin po ang pagbabakuna ng ating mga kabataan pero ang ating hinihikayat ngayon ay magpa-masterlisting na po ang mga magulang ng mga kabataan (Vaccination of minors will also commence, but currently we’re encouraging parents to have their children signed up in the government’s master lists),” he said.
“Inaasahan po nating magsisimula rin tayo sa Oktubre. Aprubado na rin po iyan ng ating Presidente (We expect to start in October. This has also been approved by the President),” he added.
On Monday, Sept. 27, Duterte urged the public to get vaccinated.
“I now encourage you, those who have yet to receive vaccines, to get inoculated,” he said in his taped public address.
The president also pointed out that the government may compel people to get vaccinated through the police power of the state.
“I do not want to advance this theory but under the police power of the state, everybody can be compelled to be vaccinated. Not because we do not believe in your theory or belief or your religion but because you are a carrier and a danger to society,” said Duterte.
As of Monday, a total of 44,361,285 COVID-19 vaccines have already been administered nationwide, with 20,583,580 individuals already completing their vaccinations. n
