Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) — With the booster still low, Metro Manila mayors could meet to discuss the possibility of implementing policies that may force individuals to secure their additional COVID-19 vaccine doses, according to Health Secretary Francisco Duque.
“Kausap ko po si MMDA Chairman Don Artes, sabi niya pupulungin niya ang NCR (mayors) at titignan kung pwedeng gawin din ito na ‘yung booster dose, kasi matumal parin ang ating booster dose coverage,” Duque said in a taped Cabinet meeting aired Tuesday.
[Translation: I talked to MMDA Chairman Don Artes, and he said he would convene NCR (mayors) and study if they could also do this with booster dose since its coverage remains slack.]
“We’re only 25% of our eligible population of about 46.4 million individuals who are supposed to be given the booster dose,” he added.
Reporting to President Rodrigo Duterte, Duque noted the capital region previously barred unvaccinated individuals from using public transportation or entering malls following a surge in coronavirus infections.
Duque stressed the government has been exploring ways to further ramp up the country’s vaccination rate.
“Although we would welcome, Mr. President, if the Senate or the Congress will, if they can muster that political will to make vaccination and booster a mandatory, like in other countries. Pero alam ko (But I know) this is going to be controversial,” the secretary said.
