CEBU CITY - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia ended months of speculations whether or not she will take the COVID-9 vaccine when she confirmed that she already got her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine last February 12.
Garcia said she was inoculated with Sinopharm, a Chinese brand COVID-19 vaccine.
Although she already received the vaccine, the governor reiterated that getting vaccinated should be a “personal choice”.
“You know why I did this? Because people have been saying nga “oh imong labanan mga unvaccinated kay utro sad ko (you are defending the unvaccinated because you are like them).” So, nagpavaccinate ko. So that labanan nako ang mga unvaccinated, I shall be speaking from a higher moral ground (So I had myself vaccinated so that when I defend the unvaccinated, I shall be speaking from the moral ground),” Garcia told reporters.
The governor has been vocal in her stance that vaccination should not be made mandatory.
The governor has also been opposing policy limiting the movement of unvaccinated individuals, saying such protocols are anti-poor and discriminatory.
“Because even if I would have had myself vaccinated, I will still maintain that it’s a matter of choice - a personal choice. And we should respect that - the decision of each and every Cebuano, as regard his or her body,” Garcia said.