'Queue up again if you don't like Chinese- or Russian-made COVID-19 vaccines,' --- Sec. Duque

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday said those who refuse to be vaccinated with Chinese- or Russian-made coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine will go back to the second starting line, or queue up again, and wait for any available vaccine of their own choosing.

Duque issued the clarification during today’s third round of public hearing by the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW) on government’s preparation for a planned vaccine rollout in the first quarter of 2022.

Senator Maria Josefa Imelda R. Marcos, a former Ilocos Norte governor, had asked Duque on whether the people could select vaccines other than those made in China and Russia.

Marcos stressed that there is a great anxiety of the people on the current pandemic as one half of the Philippines do not want to be vaccinated.

Duque said those who had refused to be vaccinated first because they do not like the vaccine being used should wait for the arrival of supplies for other kinds of vaccines.

He maintained that vaccines to be used have passed through government screening and are thus safe and good.

Duque said there is no assurance of the supply of vaccines of their choice as many countries are also waiting for available vaccines.

Marcos recalled a statement of Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque that people should not be choosy in the brand of vaccines to be used.