Malacañang said Monday President Rodrigo Duterte is willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine shot once local regulators approve a potential vaccine for emergency use.
However, the actual vaccination may not be televised or made available to the public even if Palace emphasized the need to increase vaccines’ confidence.
“Ginawa mo namang spectacle ang Presidente,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said at a press briefing.
“Hindi naman kinakailangan na ipakitang live ‘yan, but in any case, it’s the President’s decision. I will not second-guess the President.”
The President had earlier said he was willing to get vaccinated in public.
“Ako pagdating ng bakuna in public, para walang satsat diyan, in public magpa-injection ako. Ako ‘yung maunang ma-eksperimentuhan. Okay, para sa akin,” Duterte said in a televised address on August 10, a day before Russia approved Sputnik V.
“Maligayang-maligaya ako kasi ang Russia kaibigan natin ito. Wala tayong away sa Russia. Ang ano nila is bibigay sila ng bakuna, wala naman silang sinasabing ‘Bayaran mo,’” Duterte said.
“Ito tingin ko kay President Putin, tulong niya sa atin, libre. Kaya ngayon, tinatanggap natin at kung ano ang supply, mag-usap pa kami kung ilan ang kailangan natin,” he added.
Robredo also willing to get COVID-19 vaccine
Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo said she is willing to be among the first people to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 vaccine.
This is to allay the fears of the Filipinos for their safety against such vaccines.
Robredo made the statement after being asked in her weekly radio program whether she favors the proposal first to vaccinate COVID-19 to the country’s top officials to increase the people’s trust and confidence in it.
The vice president said that if the goal is to increase the people’s confidence in the vaccine, it is okay.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also accepted the challenge to be the first one to get a COVID-19 vaccine to ease the fears of the public about the vaccine’s safety.
“Yes, [I will do it]. Definitely. That is a no brainer. Sure. No problem,” Duque said in an ANC interview on Monday.
Last Saturday, Senator Bong Go dared vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to volunteer and the first ones to get a dose of a “safe” COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available in the country.