The President of The Philippines has told citizens that he will jail them if they refuse a covid-19 vaccine. Rodrigo Duterte issued the threat in a televised address last night.
Leaving no room for ambiguity Duterte said:
“You choose, vaccine or I will have you jailed. If you are a person who is not vaccinated, you are a potential carrier.”
It is alleged that The Philippines has had 1.3 million covid cases and 23,000 deaths. Turnout at vaccination centres in Manila has been low, prompting the President’s outburst.
When it was pointed out to Duterte that his health officials do not support compulsory vaccination he said: “Don’t get me wrong, there is a crisis in this country. I’m just exasperated by Filipinos not heeding the government.”
He went on to say that quarantine is compulsory even for Filipinos who have had both jabs. The Philippines population is 110 million. Only 2.1 million people have had two jabs.
Schools remain shut in the country. Duterte aims to vaccinate 70 million Filipinos.