Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque claimed on Monday, October 4 that the Philippines is the "envy" of other poor countries when it comes to its vaccination rate against the dreaded coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Roque, who spoke at the "Resbakuna" event at SM City Clark in Pampanga, made a big deal out of the Philippines' full vaccination of 28 percent out of its eligible population.
"Kaya nga po kapag binabato tayo ng kalaban na palpak tayo, hindi ba nila alam na ang ibang mahihirap ding bansa eh nasa 2 percent pa lang ng mga bakuna, samantalang ang mga mayayamang bansa naguusap na tungkol sa kanilang mga booster shot? (Whenever our critics say that we have failed, don't they know that the vaccination rate of other poo countries is just 2 percent, while the rich countries are already talking about booster shots?)" he said.
"Hindi ba ho yan isang napakalaking accomplishment na samantalang ang mga katulad nating mga bansa na 2 percent pa lamang, nasa 28 percent na tayo dito sa ating bayan (Isn't that a huge accomplishment that while similar countries are at two percent, we've already reached 28 percent here in our country)," noted Roque.
The 28 percent equates to roughly 21 million Filipinos. Metro Manila, the country's economic center, has 75 percent of its population fully vaccinated.
A fully vaccinated person from COVID-19 has had up to two vaccine shots. Subsequent shots are called booster shots.
Roque asked Filipinos to not be fooled by administration critics.
"Hindi po makatarungan ang nangyari pagdating sa distribusyon ng mga bakuna, at ang nagawa po natin dito sa liderato ni President Rodrigo Duterte ay kinaiinggitan ng ibat ibang mga bansa na hindi rin nakabahagi dun sa 85 porsyento ng bakuna (There was injustice in the distribution of vaccines, and what we did under the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte is now the envy of other countries that were also not given 85 percent of the vaccines)."
President Duterte had earlier assailed wealthier nations for discussing the use of booster shots when there are a lot of people in the world who doesn't have access to even a single shot of the life-saving jabs.
"Ipagdiwang natin ang ating nagawa dahil hindi po gaya ng mga ibang bansa na pinagkaitan ng bakuna, 28 percent national vaccinated na po tayo, 75 percent sa Metro Manila (Let's celebrate our accomplishment because unlike other countries that have been denied access to vaccines, we've achieved a national vaccination rate of 28 percent, with 75 percent in Metro Manila)," Roque said.