Towards National Health Recovery: Call for Intensified Science-based Information Campaigns on Vaccines against COVID-19 in the Philippines

Erwin E Rotas

doi:10.21601/ejeph/11262

Abstract

Vaccine refusal has been a recurring situation that transpires both in mainstream and social media for over a decade even up to this day. With the goal towards national health recovery, this editorial letter calls for science-based information campaigns on vaccines against COVID-19 in all possible venues. It discusses the background from which the call is grounded, theoretical arguments that explain people’s intention behavior, and the importance of information campaigns. This call hopes to increase COVID-19 vaccine literacy programs and encourage high vaccine acceptance and intention among Filipinos.

Highlights

Vaccine refusal has been a recurring situation that transpires both in mainstream and social media for over a decade even up to this day
As series of clinical results demonstrated high level of confidence on the newly-developed COVID-19 vaccines, most governments around the globe urgently laid out their respective response plans on the procurement of vaccination program for their people especially the Philippines
On a survey conducted by the Department of Interior and Local Government, it was found out that only 3 of 10 Metro Manila residents wants to vaccinate against COVID-19 (Corrales and Chiu, 2021), suggesting a greater percent of vaccine rejection and hesitancy

Summary

Introduction

Vaccine refusal has been a recurring situation that transpires both in mainstream and social media for over a decade even up to this day. As series of clinical results demonstrated high level of confidence on the newly-developed COVID-19 vaccines, most governments around the globe urgently laid out their respective response plans on the procurement of vaccination program for their people especially the Philippines. The Philippine government is in the advanced stage of negotiations with different vaccine manufacturers (Department of Health, 2021).

Results

Conclusion