Why Duterte can be choosy with COVID-19 vaccine? He's the President and a senior citizen -- Roque

Holding the highest government post in the country and carrying the heavy burdens of the presidency brings with it a lot of perks, including the prerogative to pick a coronavirus vaccine.

While Filipinos have been asked not to be choosy with the brand of vaccines, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque has invoked President Duterte's position in government as well as his senior age in justifying his right to choose the brand.

"Well you know, I think the President is the president and because he is over 70 years old," Roque said during a televised press briefing when asked why the President can choose his vaccine brand despite not being a health worker.

The country's health workers, considered heroes for battling the pandemic in the front lines, are given the top priority to get the vaccine supply to enhance their protection against the illness. Next in the vaccination line will be seniors, poor and vulnerable citizens and essential workers.

The government earlier declared that all health workers must receive the free inoculations before other priority sectors will be vaccinated.

"Kung masusunod talaga, hindi talaga dapat magpabakuna pa si Presidente dahil hindi pa tapos ang mga medical frontliners (If the policy will be followed, the President must not really be vaccinated yet because the vaccination of medical frontliners is not yet complete)," Roque said.

The President earlier passed up on getting the Sinovac vaccines despite the recent delivery to the country. The Chinese-made vaccines have not been recommended for health workers, and instead may be used for healthy persons age 18 to 59.

The 75-year-old Duterte instead opted to wait for another Chinese brand upon the advice of his doctor. The Palace earlier said the President wanted to be injected with the Sinopharm vaccine and will wait for its emergency use approval by local drug regulators. The Chinese drug manufacturer has reportedly filed its application for emergency use authorization before the Food and Drug Administration.