President Duterte intends to consult his doctor about his planned vaccination against the new coronavirus disease, Malacañang said Tuesday.

The President's planned medical consultation comes a day after the Palace announced that Duterte, a senior citizen, will be among the first to be vaccinated. Duterte reportedly prefers to receive vaccines developed either by Russia or China but the first supply to arrive in the country will be those made by US-based Pfizer.

"The issue will to have to be discussed by the President with his physician. He is of course under advice of his physician," Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said during a televised press briefing when asked if Duterte will be willing to receive Pfizer vaccines.

Asked if the President will be allowed to choose the vaccine brand, Roque claimed that this would depend on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines on the use of coronavirus vaccines in the country.

"Well within the framework to be given by the FDA kasi hindi ko alam ko ano magigiging desisyon ng FDA kung anong hanggang edad ibibigay anong klaseng bakuna (Well within the framework to be given by the FDA because I don't know the decision of the FDA about the age of persons to receive the vaccines). But as I said he is under advice from his physician right now)," he said..

The local drug regulators have so far given the emergency use approval for the coronavirus vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca. The country's first batch of COVID vaccines, particularly the Pfizer drugs under the global vaccine acquisition scheme called COVAX family, is expected to arrive this month.

On Monday, Feb. 8, Roque announced that the President would be among the first to receive the coronavirus jab when the vaccination program begins since he is a senior citizen. Duterte will turn 76 years old on March 28.

"Ang Presidente will enjoy priority dahil nga po siya ay senior citizen. Pero siyempre importante rin po na magpabakuna siya para sa vaccine confidence. So inaasahan po natin na isa siya sa pinakauna The President will enjoy priority because he is a senior citizen. But of course it is also important for him to get vaccinated for vaccine confidence. So we expect him to be among the first to be vaccinated). Whether it is done publicly or privately, will be his decision," Roque said.

The Palace has said the President's vaccination will be done in private since he wants to be injected in the buttock area. Roque said Duterte wants to emulate the British monarchs who were vaccinated away from public eye.