An informed consent is still needed before an individual can be vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday, June 22.
"Ang ating bakuna ay free and prior informed consent. Kaya kailangan pumirma sila ng consent para mabakunahan (Our vaccine is free and requires prior informed consent. So they have to sign a consent to be vaccinated)," said DOH Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje.
The informed consent prior to vaccination was stated in the “Philippine National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 Vaccines.”
“Obtaining informed consent for immunization is both an ethical and legal requirement in any vaccination program,” it said.
“For consent to be valid, it must be informed, understood and voluntary, and the person consenting must have the capacity to make the decision,” it added.
Cabotaje made the statement after President Duterte threatened on Monday night to jail those who refuse to get inoculated against the viral illness.
The Health official said that the pronouncement of Duterte should be put in a “proper context.”
“I think it is born out of the passion and need of the President to emphasize the point na kailangan magpabakuna to help us move on para maprotect ang one another. (I think it is borne out of the passion and need of the President to emphasize the point that vaccination is needed to help us move on and to protect one another). That is very important,” said Cabotaje.
“I think that is the context na kailangan natin tingnan sa pronouncement ng Presidente. Because sabi nga nIya ’ (I think that is the context that we need to look at in the President's pronouncement. Because he said), ‘no one is safe until everyone is safe.’ He wants safe and effective vaccines for all Filipinos,” she added.