SOME Dabawenyos expressed doubt that Covid-19 vaccines will be the solution in ending the pandemic even as its development is making progress, a survey by the University of Mindanao-Institute of Popular Opinion (UM-IPO) showed.
According to UM-IPO's online survey, which was conducted from December 7 to 19 targeting Dabawenyos from the three districts of Davao City, three out of 10 or 27.9 percent of the respondents said they are uncertain in supporting the use of vaccination program to end the Covid-19 pandemic.
When asked about their confidence that the pandemic will end with the availability of the vaccine, four out of 10 or 37.5 percent said that they are unsure whether the vaccines can actually end the pandemic.
The survey also showed that two out of 10 Dabawenyos expressed unwillingness to get the vaccine because of possible side effects, fear of complication, personal mistrust in vaccines, lack of empirical clinical studies affirming the safety of the vaccine, among others.
Also, three out of 10 of the respondents expressed uncertainty whether to get the vaccine or not, "with key reasons of uncertainty such as uncertainty of the efficacy of the vaccines, personal decision to observe the situation first, possible side effects to the body, general skepticism on vaccines and the like."
Also, three out of 10 Dabawenyos are skeptical that the government would ensure fairness in vaccine distribution and two of 10 believe that both the national and city government would be unfair in the distribution of vaccines.
Generally supportive
Meanwhile, six out of 10 or 63.2 percent of the respondents support the vaccine program or the vaccine distribution program while 8.9 percent are not supportive of the program.
Five out of 10 Dabawenyos or 48.7 percent expressed confidence that the pandemic will end with the vaccines while 13.8 percent see the vaccine as unessential in ending the pandemic.
The survey also showed that half of the respondents are willing to get the vaccine.
The majority or 51.2 percent of Dabawenyos think that the national government would be fair in the distribution of vaccines, while 47.3 percent believe that the local government would be fair in its distribution.
UM-IPO tapped 1,027 respondents collected within the time frame and the survey yielded 824 valid responses for analysis.
The goal of the online survey is to elicit the perception or behavior of Dabawenyos about the Covid-19 vaccine and their perception of whether the pandemic will be over with the availability and distribution of these vaccines.
The survey covered questions on the use of vaccines to prevent Covid-19, perception on whether the pandemic will end with the availability of vaccine, how long the pandemic will last after mass immunization, general behavior on vaccines, and trust towards the government on vaccine distribution programs.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio recently said in a radio interview that the city government has allocated a budget for the procurement of vaccines once the national government will formally announce the vaccines it will roll out to the entire country.
The mayor also said she already communicated with some drugmakers for the city to score some supplies that will be distributed in the city through a vaccination program, which the city government has also already drafted.
However, she said the city cannot proceed with its plan as the national government has not yet approved any Covid-19 vaccine brands to be used in the country.
Meanwhile, Covid-19 vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez told President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, December 26, that the country might be able to secure around 80 million vaccines from developers in other countries.
Galvez Jr., meanwhile, said the country is expected to ink the vaccine deal with Pfizer in January next year.
Aside from Pfizer, the national government is also exploring other vaccine brands, including China's Sinovac.