Governor willing to be the first to be jabbed with COVID-19 vaccine in Iloilo
By Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY—To boost confidence among residents of his fellow Ilonggos, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said he was willing to be the first to be administered the vaccine against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) once it becomes available.

“Indi ako magpa vaccinate sa probinsya kung indi mismo matuslok sa lawas ko (I will not be pushing for the vaccination program in the province if I don’t get vaccinated),” Defensor said in his weekly press conference.
This was after the Iloilo provincial government signed a multilateral agreement with British pharmaceutical firm AztraZeneca and the national government to procure the COVID-19 vaccine.
The governor emphasized it was important for residents of the 42 towns and component city of Passi to know that the vaccine was safe, and getting himself innoculated may convince others to do the same.
Defensor cited a survey that there is a large percentage of Filipinos who do not want to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Department of Health (DOH) has previously allayed fears after the controversy surrounding Dengvaxia, the vaccine against dengue.
Along with DOH’s Western Visayas regional office, Defensor presided over a meeting with mayors of the 42 towns and Passi City to lay down how the plan on how the vaccination program in the province will be rolled out.