MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Rodrigo Duterte has no misgivings about persons already vaccinated against COVID-19 going outside.
“I do not have any qualms about people going out if they’re vaccinated,” Duterte said, speaking partly in Filipino, in a taped speech that aired late Wednesday. “What’s the purpose of having a vaccine if you’re not going out?”
“Those who are vaccinated, you may now roam around. Those are not vaccinated, stand aside. I’ll make plans about what to do with you,” he added.
Duterte said a law might be needed for unvaccinated persons going around, but said he could not wait for that to be passed.
“There is no law, but the necessity is there,” he said. “I’ll answer for that. This is my order: You will be returned to your house. That’s my order. You will be returned to your house. I’ll face that. I assume full responsibility for that,” he said.
“So if you want to go out, get vaccinated. If you don’t want to go out, I’m telling the authorities down there to give it [the vaccine] to someone else. Why should they wait for you?” Duterte said.
Earlier, Duterte said persons who would refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19 should just stay home.
The country has surpassed its target of administering 500,000 doses in a day with over 659,000 given on Wednesday alone.
Meanwhile, more than 6.8 million individuals have been so far fully vaccinated against COVID-19.