Booster Shots Not Required for Voters, Comelec Says

The Commission on Elections said Thursday booster shots are not a requirement for Filipinos to cast their vote, clarifying misinformation online.

On election day, voters will be screened for temperature and those who are 37 degrees or higher can vote in an isolation facility, said Commissioner George Erwin Garcia.

"Mali yung kumakalat na balita na kailangan daw ang booster shot. Walang requirement na ganun. That would be unconstitutional kung magre-require ang Commission on Elections ng booster shot para makaboto," he said.

On May 9, individuals who register a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius or higher will be asked to stay put for a while and get a second reading, Garcia said.

If after a few minutes the temperature is still above average, they will be asked to proceed to an isolation facility where they can cast their vote.

"May booster ka o wala, ikaw ay makakaboto. May nararamdaman ka o wala, ikaw ay makakaboto. No Filipino should be deprived of their right to vote," Garcia said.

"That is a constitutional right and that is our commitment. You have the right to vote, we will count your vote and we will proclaim the winner of this election based on your votes," he added.

As of March 16, more than 64 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, of which over 11 million have received their booster shots, according to the National Task Force against COVID-19.

ALSO READ:

Here's How the May 9, 2022 Elections Will Go

Comelec Debunks 'No Vaccine, No Vote', Other Misinformation