Philippines Govt To Jail Citizens Who Refuse Covid-19 Vaccination

The Philippines government has warned that citizens risk going to jail if they refuse to take the covid-19 vaccine.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte issued the threat following reports of 1,367,894 covid-19 cases and about 23,809 deaths.

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“If you’re a person who’s not vaccinated and a potential carrier, to protect the people, I have to sequester you in jail,

“The first wave has really depleted the resources of government; another one would be disastrous for this country. That is why the stricter you are, the better,” he said in a national address as quoted by The Times.

But the country’s Justice Secretary, Menardo Guevarra, frowned on the president’s comments on Tuesday.

He held that the constitution did not make vaccination mandatory for citizens.

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The development comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) also stated its position on mandatory covid-19 vaccination.

In a document dated April 13, 2021, it stated that it neither “endorses or opposes mandatory COVID-19 vaccination” but added that “ because policies that mandate an action or behaviour interfere with individual liberty and autonomy,” governments should seek to balance communal well-being with individual liberties.

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