SWS: 69% of unvaccinated Filipinos still hesitant to get COVID-19 shots

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 16) — More than three years since the country detected its first coronavirus case, over half of unvaccinated Filipinos are still hesitant to get COVID-19 shots, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed Thursday.

The poll conducted among 1,200 unvaccinated respondents from Dec. 10 to 14 last year found that 69% still do not want the vaccine, 12% were willing to get the shots, while 19% were still undecided.

Among those vaccinated with at least one dose, 44% were unwilling to have their booster shots, while 32% were willing.

Willingness to get a second booster shot, meanwhile, was higher among those who got their third dose at 55%, while 32% were unwilling.

The SWS also noted that while 87% or about 62.6 million of its respondents have been vaccinated, data showed this number "hardly moved" between April to December last year.

The Department of Health (DOH) said vaccine wastage could exceed 50 million by the end of March. 

According to the latest DOH data, around 79.17 million Filipinos are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 while 24.18 million of the eligible population have received their booster shots.