Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III expressed hope that the Congress "can muster political will" to pass a measure that would make Covid-19 vaccination mandatory.
The DOH and the National Vaccine Operations Center (NVOC) are currently doing different strategies to increase the country's Covid-19 vaccination rate, said Duque.
"So, lahat po ginagawa ng inyo pong gobyerno, Mr. President, ang lahat ng pamamaraan. Hindi ko na po maisip kung ano pang pamamaraan ang hindi pa natin nagawa (the government is doing everything, Mr. President. I can't imagine what other ways we haven't done yet)," the Health chief said during the "Talk to the People" program of President Duterte aired on Tuesday, April 5.
"Although, we would welcome, Mr. President, if the Senate or Congress will — if they can muster that will, political will, to make vaccination and booster a mandatory like in other countries," he said.
"Pero alam ko po this is going to be very controversial pero sana naman po ay intindihin nila na tayo po ay nag — bumili ng mga bakuna, tama po kayo, Mr. President, para maproteksiyunan ang publiko, ang atin pong mga kababayan (But I know this is going to be very controversial but I hope they will understand that we bought vaccines. You are right, Mr. President--- this is to protect the public)," he furthered.
The government has launched other vaccination centers in different sites to further improve the vaccination coverage, said Duque.
"About two months ago, we launched the 'Resbakuna sa Botika.' So marami na pong mga malalaking bakuna, network of botikas and pharmacies nagbabakuna na po doon sa kanila pong mga lugar (we have networks of pharmacies that are already vaccinating in their areas)," he said.
"Pangalawa, ‘yung (Second, the) Resbakuna sa Klinika. Nakiusap po tayo (We talked ) with the Philippine Medical Association and they obliged. So lahat po ng mga clinics nila puwede na silang magbakuna. So all their clinics can now do vaccination)," he added.
"Nagbukas na rin po tayo ng bakunahan sa transport sector together with the DOTr (Department of Transportation), sa seaports, sa airports, sa mga Integrated Terminal Exchange ano sa mga terminals. Mayroon na rin pong mga bakunahan diyan (We have also opened vaccinations in the transport sector together with the DOTr---at seaports, airports, at the Integrated Terminal Exchanges and at the terminals) , Mr. President, at mayroon din po tayong mga (We also have) drive-thru vaccination," he furthered.
Some local government units (LGUs) are also doing house-to-house vaccination, said Duque.
Meanwhile, Duque said that the Metro Manila mayors are set to have a meeting to discuss other policies such as “No Vax, No Ride” policy, “No Vax, No Entry” in the establishments to encourage Covid-19 vaccine booster uptake in their respective areas.
“Nakausap ko po si chairman — MMDA Chairman Don Artes at sabi niya pupulungin niya ang NCR at titingnan kung puwedeng gawin din po ito na yung booster dose kasi matumal pa rin ‘yung ating booster dose coverage, mababa pa rin, Mr. President (I talked to the chairman - MMDA Chairman Don Artes and he said he will convene the NCR and discuss if these can be done for the booster dose because our booster coverage is still low, Mr. President),” he said.
"We are only 25 percent of our eligible population of about 46.4 million individuals who are actually supposed to be given the booster dose. But for a variety of reasons eh hindi naman po sila nagpapa-booster pa (they are not yet getting their boosters)," he added.
Duque encouraged eligible Filipinos to get their booster shots to minimize the transmission of Covid-19.
"So sana po ay ‘wag nating antayin magkaroon ng surge at saka doon po tayo magpapabakuna. Ngayon na po ang pinakamagandang panahon para magpabakuna (I hope we will not wait for another surge to happen and then that's the time you will receive the vaccine. Now is the best time to get vaccinated)," he said.