SWS: 51% of adult Filipinos confident of government’s evaluation of COVID-19 vaccines
Three months into the country’s COVID-19 vaccination program, the Philippines has given 3.3 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to its citizens, with over 780,000 fully vaccinated according to ourworldindata.org.
The Social Weather Stations (SWS) released on Thursday its first quarter 2021 report, which says 51% of Filipino adults are confident of the government’s evaluation of the COVID-19 vaccines, while 17% say otherwise.
The vaccines that have been used in the Philippines so far are Sinovac, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sputnik V.
With respondents who expressed confidence in the government’s evaluation of the COVID-19 vaccines, 18% of them were “very confident” and 34% were “somewhat confident."
According to the nationwide survey conducted from April 28 to May 2, respondents in Mindanao showed the highest confidence (58%), followed by Visayas (55%), Metro Manila (49%) and Balance Luzon (47%).
When it comes to willingness to be vaccinated, the figures are divided almost evenly. Those who are willing to be vaccinated were at 32%, those uncertain were 35%, and 33% were unwilling. Metro Manila has the highest willingness (41%) of Mindanao, Visayas and Balance Luzon.
The survey reveals that willingness to be vaccinated is highest among college graduates (50%), followed by junior high school graduates (34%), elementary graduates (25%), and non-elementary graduates (25%).
The poll also shows that personal protection and prevention against COVID-19 are the top reasons of respondents why they would get vaccinated.
For those who are willing to be vaccinated, they were asked, “Why did you say you will surely/probably get the vaccine if you have a chance to be given a free vaccine that can prevent COVID-19?” The respondents were not provided a list of answers to choose from and they were allowed to give more than one answer.
Forty-one% gave answers that are related to “for my safety and protection against COVID-19” and 30% were “to avoid contracting the COVID-19 virus.”
Among the common reasons to get vaccinated are the following:
- For their family’s safety and protection against COVID-19
- To stop the spread of the virus
- It is required in the workplace
- It is safe and proven effective
- To go out without the worry of catching COVID-19
- It is available for free
- Because others have already been inoculated
Meanwhile, the biggest chunk of those who are uncertain and unwilling to be inoculated fear the side effects of the vaccine (39%). Though medical experts have repeatedly said that it is common to experience side effects after one has been vaccinated, the fear in some remains.
This was followed by respondents saying it is not safe and effective (21%), they might die/have heard reports of fatality (11%), and they are afraid/don’t trust the vaccine.
Banner and thumbnail photos by Jesse Bustos and Michael Varcas of The Philippine STAR