Abadilla, Mary Alexandria

Obciana, Marvin

Sotomayor Vino
Susmerano Auel
Tamondong John Angelo

1. Problem or Need Recognition

Vaccine Hesitancy in the Philippines

2. Information Search
Getting vaccinated is one of the helpful ways to fight viruses. They have been
scientifically tested and proven to be effective by multiple studies. It outweighs the risks of
getting infected by a virus and possibly experiencing critical health conditions. However, there
are still who are unsure and questions its efficacy and side effects that we may experience in the
long term. Some still refuse to get shot, while others were exposed to misinformation which
leads to vaccine hesitancy. Hesitancy can be attributed to a number of things, including
information. Vaccines are not well-known, and there is a scarcity of vaccine knowledge.
Ignorance regarding their efficacy or adverse effects, distrust, and an underestimate of benefits
when compared to other treatments Overestimation of vaccination risks and costs is one of the
possible causes. Vaccine Hesitancy discusses about the delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines
despite availability of vaccine services. In a community, it is a complex and context specific
variable across time, place and vaccines. It might be influenced by factors such as complacency,
convenience and assurance.

Vaccine assurance changed drastically in the Philippines when the Dengvaxia

controversy erupted. Several reports spread regarding deaths that were allegedly linked to
Dengvaxia, which poses fear and hesitancy among Filipinos because of their concern with their
health, especially the welfare of their children. Despite the government's efforts to urge the
people to join in the COVID19 immunization program, vaccine apprehension remains a major
problem in the Philippines. It may soon have to deal with vaccination apprehension on a large
basis. It is critical that the Philippine government recognizes societal traumas as a role in
vaccination apprehension, despite different attempts to enhance vaccine safety and efficacy
against COVID-19.

3. Evaluation of Alternatives
 Recommendation from health care providers highlighting the importance of vaccine.
 Incentives Provision such as Antigen Testing Kits and financial allowances supported by the
National Government.
 Providing informative materials such as statistical data, different kinds of vaccines available,
etc.

4. Selection Stage
ALTERNATIVES ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Recommendation from  Reliable information will  Not everyone believe in
health care providers be disseminated Medical Practitioners
highlighting the  Not too expensive and the  Some people still need
importance of vaccine. government can save the reassurance
funds  Other Health care
professionals who are still
hesitant and spread
misinformation
 Incentives Provision such  People can be persuaded  Uncertainty of fund
as Antigen Testing Kits easily allocation
and financial allowances  The financial incentives  Budget expense
supported by the National might help to those in
Government need and they can allocate
financial aid to their
priorities.
 They can do their own
testing. (or may still
 require a medical
professional)
 Providing informative  They will be well  Some people may be
informed but still unsure
materials such as equipped with information
to get vaccinated and in
statistical data, different about vaccines. need of assurance.
 The information provided
kinds of vaccines  The campaign materials
in the material can still be
available, etc. will be easier to spread misinterpreted.
 Other disinformation
because of social media.
propaganda materials by
 May provide latest anti-vaxxers contradict
and posting it on
updates on vaccines
widespread media.

5. Evaluation of Decision
In some studies, it states that to be able to prove the efficacy of a specific vaccine, it
should have been studied for at least 5 years. But the vaccine used to suppress the Covid 19 virus
has only been made by various companies for about a year which leads to vaccine hesitancy here
in the Philippines. People think that vaccines designed to fight COVID-19 are uncertain because
of the pace at which they are made especially that the public still remembers Dengvaxia vaccine
garnering bad comments because of the issues it involved. And it was only a few years ago, so
this issue had a big impact on the new vaccine offered by the government to the public to fight
Covid 19. And for these reasons, our government has difficulty persuading the public to get
vaccinated.

That's why we came up with an effective solution to encourage the public to get
vaccinated through giving them an incentive and free antigen test funded by the government
when they get fully vaccinated. Covid-19 pandemic brings a massive change in the lives of
everyone in today’s generation. And because of this pandemic, one of the most affected aspect is
our economy. Many establishments closed temporarily because they can’t afford the effect of the
pandemic in their businesses and because of this many Filipinos became jobless. So it will be
easier for the government to persuade the public to get vaccinated if they’ll have incentives,
because this incentives will help temporarily those became jobless and those who don’t have
savings to surpass this crisis because they will have a money to spend for their needs. And our
group think that it will benefit both sides, the public and the government because we will be able
to achieve the herd immunity that we need for the public safety and of course an incentive for
everyone that they can use wherever they want.