Those ‘choosy’ with vaccine brands will wait at end of line – Malacañang

Those who are choosy with vaccine brands will have to wait at the end of the queue for COVID-19 vaccination.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, only health workers who are top priority on the list are allowed to choose the brand of vaccine they want to inject into them.

Roque also said that subsequent priority groups, the elderly and those with other diseases, will not be forced to get the available vaccine.

“Pero matatapos na po iyong kaniyang prayoridad. Kumbaga, back to the end of the line. That’s only fair,” said Roque.

Roque further pointed out the Social Weather Stations survey, which said 39 percent of respondents wanted the vaccine from Beijing Sinovac Biotech, while 32 percent wanted the vaccine made by Pfizer.

The survey was conducted between April 28 and May 2.

The survey also showed that 63 percent of Filipinos prefer the vaccine from America.

Those ‘choosy’ with vaccine brands will wait at end of line – Malacañang

“Naiintindihan naman po natin ‘yan. Talaga namang sa ating kasaysayan, ang mga Pilipino ay mas humahanga sa mga [galing] stateside,”said Roque.

But Roque added that the current supply of the vaccine from America is lacking.

“Bagama’t mayroon tayong preference sa stateside, unahin na po muna natin ang ating mga buhay, ang buhay ng ating pamilya, ng ating komunidad. Magpabakuna na po kung ano available,” said Roque.

So far, the Philippines has received around 8.279 million Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines from China.

“Sana po ay hindi kayo maunahan nang mas nakakahawang mga mutants ng coronavirus habang naghihintay ng gusto ninyong brand,” said Roque.