After being reported as having agreed to such a recommendation, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said there was no need for the country to have a law requiring Filipinos to get a Covid-19 booster shot as they still have liberty over their well-being.
Marcos said this after recovering from his second bout with the coronavirus disease.
In his latest vlog uploaded to YouTube on Saturday evening, the President said while it was becoming more apparent that booster shots are helpful, and there was no need to have a law requiring Filipinos to get one.
"Hindi naman talaga kailangan isabatas pa ito, dahil malaya pa rin tayong mamili para sa ating sariling kalusugan (We don't actually need to pass a law regarding this since we are free to decide for our health)," Marcos said.
"Pero habang tumatagal, mas lumilinaw ang sinasabi ng siyensya, ang mga datos, at ang mga pag-aaral na ang pagbabakuna ay malaki ang naitutulong para sa ating kaligtasan mula sa Covid-19 (But as time passes, science, the data, and studies prove that vaccination is a big help to protect us from Covid-19)," he added.
President Marcos acknowledged that his second bout with the virus could have been worse if he had not been vaccinated.
"Ang tingin ko, kung hindi dahil sa vaccine at booster shot, ay siguradong mas malubha ang naging tama ko at ang aking pakiramdam (I think it would be for certain that I'd be in a worse condition if not for the vaccine and the booster shot)," he said.
According to Marcos, his symptoms were a slight fever and itchiness in his throat.
The President added that his renewed calls for people to get their booster shot was in preparation for the return of students to classrooms later this year.
"Preparasyon na rin ito sa pagbabalik ng face-to-face classes at pagluwag ng iba pang mga safety protocols (This is in preparation for the resumption of face-to-face classes and easing of the safety protocols)," he said.
"Kung magiging matagumpay ang kampanyang ito, tuloy na tuloy na ‘yan (Things would go according to plan if we succeed in this)," he added.