PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered local government units (LGUs) to find the vaccine recipients who have not received their second dose and take steps to ensure that they get it.
He said the LGUs should find out why some vaccinees have not gone back for their second dose.
At the same time, he urged the vaccinees to follow instructions.
“Hindi naman mahirap ‘yan eh. You find time at your convenience na bumalik doon pumila at magpabakuna ng tinatawag nilang second booster. Iyon ang magbigay sa inyo ng more or less a good protection,” Duterte said in a televised public address on Monday evening, June 7, 2021.
The President issued the order around a week after Dr. John Wong, an epidemiologist for the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease said over a million vaccine recipients missed their second dose of the vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Wong’s statement, however, was refuted by the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19, which cited data from the National Vaccination Operations Center showing that only 9.0 percent or around 113,000 have missed their second dose.
As of June 6, a total of 4,421,319 have received one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. Of this number, 1,544,332 individuals have been fully vaccinated, having received two doses.
A total of 5,965,651 doses have been administered since the vaccinations started on March 1.
Meanwhile, Duterte said fully vaccinated individuals should still wear face masks and face shields, and observe physical distancing and other minimum health protocols.
"Although it would give you a measure of protection, it does not guarantee you will not get Covid again. In spite of your vaccine, please observe the basic protocols," he said.
He said infectious persons who refuse to isolate themselves and follow health protocols may be charged with reckless imprudence.
"If he knows that he is sick with Covid-19, and he goes about nonchalant, papasyal pasyal ka lang diyan. You are - maybe if it is intentional, malayo iyan. Pero it could be murder, sabi ni Sal. At iyang reckless imprudence, mas swak doon sa sitwasyon na iyon," Duterte said.
Chief Presidential Counsel Salvador Panelo said those who refuse to follow health protocols may also be charged with resistance or disobedience to authorities aside from violation of Republic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año reported that 50,021 persons have been arrested for not wearing face masks, 613 for mass gatherings and 13,882 for non-observance of physical distancing. Over 1,700 were charged in court. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)