The government could "tone down" the orders for coronavirus vaccines from suppliers if some Filipino would refuse to accept the government's immunization offer, President Duterte said Wednesday night.
(RICHARD MADELO/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Addressing the nation Wednesday night, the President said the government would want to vaccinate all Filipinos but if some would take a pass at the free drug, it would not be a problem.
"Kaya nga kita mo dito milyon-milyon ang pag-usapan it’s because we intend to --- kung maaari lang i-vaccinate mo ‘yung 110 plus Filipinos (Look at how we're talking about millions of vaccines it's because we intend to vaccinate, if possible, 110 million Filipinos)," Duterte said.
"Ngayon, kung mayroong mga tao na ayaw, eh ‘di mas mabuti mauna natin ‘yung gusto, at we can tone down the orders kung sobra-sobra na (Now, if some people refuse the vaccine, that will be better. We can prioritize those who want the vaccine and we can tone down the orders if there is excess supply)," he added.
The President has defended the government's purchase of Chinese-made vaccines to fight the coronavirus, saying these are as good as those made by the Americans and Europeans. Duterte argued that the Chinese are "not lacking in brains" but are actually "bright."
"Kung ayaw ninyo, okay lang. Walang problema (If you don't want it, that's okay. There's no problem)," he said.
Despite reports of varying efficacy rates of the vaccines, Duterte claimed that these preventive drugs developed abroad are all made equal.
"Kung kayong walang pera at gusto ninyo ng bakuna na mas maganda, mas mabisa, wala, tabla lahat ‘yan. Pareho lang ang pinag-aralan nila (If those who don't have money and want a better, more effective vaccine, there's none. They're all equal. They made the same study)," he said.
"It does not mean to say that the Americans or the Europeans, the EU, are better than the Chinese," he added.
Duterte also promised the nation that the government would not acquire vaccines that are not considered safe and effective. He took responsibility for the vaccines purchased by vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr.
"I can say na kung ano ang bibilhin ni Secretary Galvez, iyan, it carries with it my approval. Sabi ko nga, in the end, ako ang mananagot nito. So iyan ang katotohanan diyan (I can say whatever Secretary Galvez buys, it carries with it my approval. In the end, I take responsibility. that's the truth)," he said.
Around P82.5 billion will be used to cover the government's acquisition of vaccines, logistics and other supplies needed for the distribution, according to the President.
So far, the government has secured 25 million doses of vaccines made by China's Sinovac Biotech, with the first 50,000 shots expected to be delivered in the country next month.
Around 30 million vaccine doses from Serum Institute of India have also been ordered by the government. More vaccine supplies are being finalized by the government with AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Gamaleya.