The plan of the national government not to announce the brand of COVID-19 vaccine to be administered shall not infringe the right of Filipinos to informed consent, according to the president of Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
In a statement, IBP President Domingo Cayosa stressed the need for informed consent prior to vaccination against COVID-19.
“Non prior public disclosure of vaccine brand may be a practical measure only to avoid delays, undue hedging and over-extended lines for a preferred brand in the government’s free vaccination program,” Cayosa said.
RELATED STORY: Duterte orders to withhold brand name of COVID-19 vaccines in sites – Palace
“It does not and should not take away the right to INFORMED CONSENT as the citizen must be individually appraised before vaccination about the brand and other details to enable him/her to intelligently consent to OR decline the offered vaccination. The Department of Health has publicly recognized the right to informed consent,” he furthered.
The banning of announcement of CoVid-19 brands stemmed up after huge crowds turned up when vaccination hubs in Metro Manila announced that they will offer Pfizer jabs.
READ ON: Robredo says she’s willing to do infomercial with Duterte on COVID-19 vaccines
The brand agnostic policy pushed by the Department of Health received backlash from netizens and the medical community.
Meanwhile, Cayosa still encouraged the public to be inoculated against Covid-19.
We encourage the vulnerable sectors to have themselves vaccinated as their turn comes. Let us all cooperate to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our community and to achieve herd immunity against the COVID 19 virus. We call on all Filipino lawyers and IBP Chapters to help government and private institutions enlighten our countrymen and to show a good example,” he said. (RA)
