Anti-vaxxers are people who believe vaccines are unsafe and infringe on their human rights.

People hold these views for a variety of reasons, which may originate from misinformation on
social media sites. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined the vaccine hesitancy as a
behavior, influenced by several factors including issues of confidence complacency and
convenience. Vaccine-hesitant individuals are the heterogeneous group who hold varying
degrees of indecision about specific vaccines or vaccination in general. Vaccine hesitant in
individuals may accept all vaccines but remain concerned about vaccines, some may refuse or
delay some vaccines but accept others; some individuals may refuse all vaccines.
Many efforts have been directed toward the development of vaccines against COVID-19 to avert
the pandemic and most of the developing vaccine candidates have been using the S-protein of
SARS-CoV. However, the willingness for vaccination is deeply influenced especially by the
mistrust of health authorities, as demonstrated in other studies focused on vaccine trials of HPV
and HIV, in Europe and the United States. In addition to a segment of the population that refuses
vaccines, the novelty of the disease and concerns over the safety and efficacy of the vaccine has
generated a sizable proportion of US people indicating reluctance to get vaccinated against
COVID-19.
The Philippines presently faces these challenges: vaccine hesitancy and increasing anti-
vaccination sentiments, a weak primary health care system with efforts to strengthen it through
the recently implemented Universal Health Care Law, and an overwhelmed health system
because of the demands of COVID-19 and other public health problems. These challenges are
further compounded by a global shortage of vaccine supply with inequitable vaccine
distributions. Specifically, during the midst of a pandemic Mayor, Mike Rama signed Executive
Order No. 157. It states that “In general only COVID-19 fully vaccinated persons, ages twelve
(12) to seventeen (17) and above are allowed to enter close and indoor venues and
establishments." Having the said mandated order by Mayor Rama affects the lives of the anti-
vaxxer by not allowing them to enter the establishment around the city.