Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday expressed hopes that President Duterte will change his mind about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in public.
However, Duque said that he respects whatever will be the decision of the President.
“Yun pong binitawang salita ni Pangulong Duterte, let's respect that...That is the choice of the President but hopefully, he might still change his mind because we know that there are some world leaders who had openly had themselves vaccinated in public,” said Duque.
Malacanang earlier announced that President Duterte will get vaccinated against the COVID-19 privately.
During a Senate hearing last January 22, the Health chief said that he will try his best to convince Duterte to get vaccinated in public.
“Yes Ma’am, we will try our best to convince the President to perhaps publicly allow himself to be vaccinated but we will respect his ultimate decision whatever it is,” Duque then told Senator Nancy Binay.
Meanwhile, during his visit in Taguig City on Wednesday, January 27, Duque said that he is willing to take the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in order to prove its safety to the public ---once already available in the country.
“Yes, handa na po kaming magpabakuna kung papahintulutan ng taong bayan. Harinawa kapag kami ay naunang nakapagpabakuna ay hindi naman po kami isasailalim sa matinding batikos na baka sabihin ay ‘ah, VIP treatment nanaman ito, nauna pa sila ,’” he said.
“So, sa mga ganitong pagkakataon, ako ay mananawagan na kung kami ay mauuna, isa lang po ang aming hangarin para maipakita sa taumbayan na itong mga bakunang ito na napili at nasuring maigi: siguradong ligtas, dekalidad, at epektibo ,” he added.