RECENTLY, there has been confusion among netizens regarding policies for unvaccinated persons.
One of the heavily discussed policies on social media is the alleged "No vaccine, no work" policies of some business establishments. Several individuals in the comment section of some social posts have claimed that their company will let go of them if they are not vaccinated.
However, the Department of Health (DOH) clarified this already in a public advisory released on August 5. The agency said this kind of policy is not allowed.
"Based on Dole (Department of Labor and Employment) Advisory No. 3 Series of 2021, all employers may encourage their employees to get vaccinated. However, any employee who chooses not to get vaccinated or fails to get vaccinated shall not be discriminated against in terms of employment," the agency said.
It added that under Republic Act 11525 or the Covid-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, "vaccine cards shall not be considered as an additional requirement for employment purposes."
Posts about "No vaccination, no ayuda" also went viral on social media causing worries among those in areas that have been placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) also debunked this policy.
"There is no truth whatsoever to the rumor that only vaccinated individuals will be given Ayuda," Usec. Jonathan Malaya, DILG Spokesperson, said in a statement on August 5.
In Davao City, Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio also clarified that the city will not be implementing a "no vaccination card, no entry" policy. She pointed out that the local government unit cannot implement such a policy considering that there is still a long way to go in vaccinating Dabawenyos.
"Because kulang pa ang atoang bakuna. The moment nga daghan ta og bakuna and wala nay gusto magpabakuna and wala ta makaabot sa 1.2 million, isa na siya sa possible options na buhaton sa isa ka LGU para ang mga tao is maengganyo magpabakuna. Pero sa pagkakaron..., kulang atong bakuna, we cannot do that. Otherwise, mag stampede ta tanan didto padulong sa vaccination center (The vaccines are not enough. Probably when there is enough vaccines and we need to reach 1.2 million vaccinated Dabawenyos, this could be a policy that can be considered to encourage people to get vaccinated. However, for now, we cannot do that because the vaccine supply is low. We could cause a stampede at the vaccination centers)," she said.
One of the main goals of the national government right now is to vaccinate as many individuals as possible. This is in a bid to reopen the economy further and reduce hospitalization and deaths. Private companies are also giving incentives to individuals who are vaccinated.
However, there are individuals who choose to not get vaccinated due to their own set of beliefs. The government has time and again acknowledged these individuals’ beliefs or stances. Government and health officials have also assured several times the vaccination will be voluntary.
With more people getting vaccinated, those who are unvaccinated have expressed worry on social media that there will be policies against them. Their concern is valid as these are also people who need to avail themselves of government services, buy the things they need, work, and do personal errands.
The implementation of policies on unvaccinated individuals could be forcing them to get vaccinated even though they do not want to. This contradicts the government’s previous statement that it respects their beliefs and the vaccination is voluntary.
The best thing the government can do right now is educating those who are unvaccinated. This could mean stepping up how it communicates and educates people on the value of vaccines. Also, it must be quick in debunking misinformation or addressing issues revolving around the vaccines.
Still, we encourage people to get vaccinated. The vaccine is an added layer of protection for you and the people around you. Studies have shown that these vaccines also reduce the severity of the Covid-19. To get your vaccine against Covid-19, you may go to your nearest district health office.
You may also contact these vaccination hotlines: (0961) 073 4965 (Smart) and (0927) 022 9087 (Globe). District vaccination hotlines can be checked here: bit.ly/DistrictVaxHotlines. The official Facebook page of the City Government of Davao also provides updates on the vaccination status and schedule of the city.