A Department of Health official said Sunday only between 10 and 15 percent of some 110 million Filipinos were hesitant to get inoculated against COVID-19, a decline from the 35 percent vaccine hesitancy recorded during the first months of national vaccination.
Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega added most Filipinos who were refusing COVID-19 vaccines had "personal belief" that it might harm them although the DOH had assured the public that all government-approved COVID-19 vaccines were safe and effective.
“We had high vaccine hesitancy when we first started. It is about 35 percent but most of these vaccine hesitant people are doubtful on the safety of vaccines,” he told Dobol B TV.
"It improved through the months. When we started vaccinating, the 35 percent decreased, and now only 10 to 15 percent refuse to get inoculated.”
Vega said they were aiming to fully vaccinate 65 percent to 70 percent of the country's population by the end of the year, adding the government also expected to fully inoculate 80 percent of the population by next year, following the vaccination of young adults.
Vega reiterated the government's National Vaccination Days this last week of November, which seeks to administer 1 million vaccines per day.
Malacañang said the 3-day national vaccination drive against COVID-19 from November 29 to December 1 might be declared non-working days.
At least 31 million Filipinos have completed their COVID-19 jabs, still way off the target of herd immunity.