Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Sunday said he is not yet sure if President Duterte would be taking shots of the Sinovac vaccine once the government finally begins its vaccination program against COVID-19.
Go said the President has to wait for the advice of his doctors on what particular vaccine to use in consideration of his age. The senator pointed out the Chief Executive is already 76 years old.
The country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not recommend Sinovac to persons aged below 18 years old and to senior citizens.
The FDA also did not recommend the China-made vaccine to healthcare workers who are closely in contact with COVID-19 patients due to its varying levels of efficacy.
Nevertheless, Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, assured that he and the President will get vaccinated against COVID-19 together.
“Kami naman po ni Pangulong Duterte, willing naman kami magpabakuna in public. Kailangan ipakita namin na tanging bakuna lang ang pag-asa natin, (Both President Duterte and I are willing to get vaccinated in public. We need to show that getting vaccinated is our only hope),” Go said in an interview over Radio DZBB.
“Sabay po kami magpapabakuna. Inaantay ko lang yung desisyon ng kanyang duktor sa darating na mga bakuna. Kung ano po yung suitable sa kanyang kalusugan at edad (we will get vaccinated together. I am just waiting for the decision of his doctor on the vaccine that he will get. And what is suitable for his health and age),” he pointed out.
“Kung ano po sinabi ng doctor, whether Sinovac, Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, Moderna… kung anong sabihin na duktor kung ano ituturok sa kanya. So di nap o question kung magpapabakuna ba siya or hindi, sure nap o na magpapabakuna (Whatever the doctor recommends, whether Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, Moderna…he will accept what vaccine is recommended by his doctor. So there’s no question on whether or not he will get vaccinated or not, he is sure to get vaccinated),” he stressed.
Other Cabinet officials, like vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and deputy chief implementer of the government’s policy against COVID-19 Vince Dizon, will get the Sinovac jabs early Monday morning.
According to Go, Galvez will get vaccinated at the Philippine General Hospital, while Duque will go to the Philippine Lung Center, and Dizon at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.
Go also confirmed he and President Duterte will personally meet with representatives of the Sinovac officials when they receive the 600,000 donated vaccines. The President will also welcome the arrival of the AstraZeneca vaccines scheduled to arrive in country on Monday, March 1, the lawmaker said.