Roque on vaccines: Look at their safety and efficacy, not place of origin

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18) — Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque defends his previous remark tagging Filipinos preferring Western vaccine brands like Pfizer as having colonial mentality.

“Pasensya na po kayo, ano. Ako po’y kilala bilang isang spokesperson na diretso magsalita, wala po akong pakialam, noh, basta ako katotohanan lamang,” the spokesman said during Monday’s briefing when asked about his remark. “At ang katotohanan po may ilan po sa atin, lalong-lalo na yung kritiko ng gobyerno, na ang pagtingin nila sa bakuna ay depende kung saan po nanggaling.”

[Translation: I’m sorry I’m known as a spokesperson who talks straight to the point, my concern is the truth and nothing else. And the truth is some of us, particularly those criticizing government, only look at the place where the vaccine came from when judging it.]

Roque drew flak from netizens last week for his remark, which brands individuals who like Pfizer as having colonial mentality.

“So sa mga mayroong colonial mentality na gusto ang Pfizer, well, pwede po kayong mag-antay pero ang ating warning po ay talagang diyan lang po iyan maibibigay dito sa Pilipinas sa mga major na siyudad kasi wala naman talaga tayong cold chain capacity outside of Metro Manila na -70 (°C),” he said on Jan. 11.

[Translation: For those who have colonial mentality who want Pfizer, you can wait but we are warning you: doses can only be given to those living in major cities as we don’t have cold chain capacity outside Metro Manila reaching -70 (°C).]

Roque said they have been regularly inviting vaccine experts like Dr. Rontgene Solante, which also spoke during today’s presser, Dr. Lulu Bravo, and Dr. Edsel Salvana to guest in his briefings to further educate the public on how to assess vaccines.

“Ang dapat tignan natin kung ito ay ligtas at kung ito po’y epektibo. At wala po tayong tuturok kung hindi po natunayang ligtas o epektibo, kahit saan pa po sila gawa,” the Palace spokesman explained on Monday.

[Translation: What we should look at is whether it (the vaccine) is safe and effective. And we will not be administering any vaccine not proven to be safe or effective, regardless of where it was made.]

The government has been accused of favoring Chinese brand Sinovac despite its cost and low efficacy rate in clinical trials compared to other vaccines, something the Palace has repeatedly denied.