Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) — Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the country’s chief executive will still receive his COVID-19 vaccine once sufficient supply comes.
“Panandaliang sentimyento ni Presidente [Rodrigo Duterte] iyong sinabi n’ya kahapon na habang hindi pa sapat ang mga bakuna, hahayanaan na muna n’yang mauna ang ating mga kababayan bago siya,” Roque told a virtual briefing Tuesday.
[Translation: What the President said yesterday was only his temporary sentiment that while vaccine supply is still not enough, he will let our fellow Filipinos go first.]
This is in response to the President’s recent statement during his weekly address that he is willing to give up his slot to someone else amid calls for him to get inoculated in public to boost vaccine confidence. Duterte said his age is one of the reasons he didn’t think the vaccine would be very much effective for him.
READ: Duterte: I am willing to waive my chance at the vaccine
“Siguro po kapag talagang dumagsa na yung ating supply at kinakailangang madiliin na talaga ang pagbabakuna sa lahat eh iyon po iyong panahon na magpapabakuna ang ating Presidente,” Roque added, while also noting that vaccine confidence is really not an issue now given the country’s limited supply of doses.
[Translation: Maybe once additional supply comes in and vaccination needs to be really expedited then that will be the time the President will be inoculated.]
Prior to the start of the vaccination program, national surveys revealed many Filipinos are reluctant on receiving a coronavirus shot due to concerns on safety and efficacy.
To improve public trust, the Health Department first inoculated hospital chiefs, who are part of the priority group, to show Filipinos the vaccines are safe and effective.
READ: Vergeire: Inoculation of top physicians boosted healthcare workers’ confidence in vaccine
The country has so far received about three million vaccine doses from Sinovac and AstraZeneca, including 500,000 vials that arrived on Sunday. Latest government data also showed some 1.1 million individuals have already received at least one dose.
Based on the status of the government’s vaccine procurement, payments and deliveries of supply for the 25 million doses from Sinovac is ongoing, delivery of some 17 million doses from AstraZeneca for local governments and the private sector will start in May, while supply agreements for 20 million vials from Moderna and 30 million doses from Novavax have been signed. Other negotiations are either for signing or are still being finalized.
The administration targets to procure 148 million vaccine doses to immunize up to 70 million Filipino by yearend.
