More Filipinos are now willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 compared at the start of the year, a survey released by pollster Pulse Asia on Monday showed as the Philippines ramps up inoculations.
Some 43% of Filipino adults said they were willing to get COVID-19 vaccines, nearly triple the 16% willing in February, the most recent poll from June 7 to 16 showed.
In terms of vaccine hesitancy, 36% of Filipinos said they refuse to get COVID-19 vaccines while 16% were undecided. The other 5% have already been vaccinated, Pulse Asia said.
Pulse Asia said vaccine confidence was highest in Metro Manila at 55% while vaccine hesitancy was highest in Visayas at 49%.
Among those who refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and those who were undecided, concern on the safety of the jab is the primary reason for their stance, Pulse Asia said.
Of those who do not want to get a COVID-19 jab, 69% cited vaccine safety as the reason while 79% of those who were undecided mentioned the matter as the reason.
"This is the predominant reason across geographic areas and socio-economic area among those not inclined to get a COVID-19 jab and those who cannot say whether or not they will get vaccinated," Pulse Asia said.
Other reasons to explain vaccine hesitancy among Filipinos are concern about its efficacy; the belief that a vaccine is not needed to combat COVID-19; worry that the vaccine might not be given for free; and concern that the vaccine might be expensive.
Among those who refused to get vaccinated and those who were undecided, 35% and 44% respectively, said they would change their mind "when I see that my relatives, friends, and/or acquaintances who have been vaccinated are safe."
Of those who refused, 33% said they might get the jab "when our doctor or health care provider says COVID-19 vaccines are safe" while there were 21% among those who were undecided.
The Philippines aims to inoculate at least 50 million Filipinos this year to achieve the government's target of population protection by November.