Palace expects to draw flak if gov’t execs get first crack at COVID-19 vaccine

Photo from REUTERS via The Straits Times/Asia News Network

MANILA, Philippines — The opposition will likely criticize the government for extending “VIP treatment” to government  officials should they be one of the first recipients of the expected COVID-19 vaccine, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said this as he noted that it is up to the officials themselves whether or not they are willing to receive the vaccine first once it becomes available in the country.

“So kung merong ilang matataas na opisyal na nais magpaturok para magsilbing halimbawa na wala naman pong masamang epekto sa kanila ang bakuna, we welcome that. Pero gaya ng sinabi ko po, tandaan niyo, pag nangyari yan, yung oposisyon sasabihin nanaman, mayroong VIP treatment,” he added.

(If there are officials who are willing to get the vaccine first to serve as an example that it is safe, we welcome that. But like what I said, if that happens, the opposition will claim there is VIP treatment.)

Over the weekend, Senator Christopher Go said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. should be among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to prove its safety.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III   (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)

Duque has accepted the dare and even said he would encourage other government officials to do the same once a COVID-19 vaccine is approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration and made available in the country.

“Alam niyo po, personal decision ‘yan ng mga namumuno pero kapag nangyari po yan, babatuhin nanaman ang gobyerno na inuna ang mga VIPs gaya nung nangyari sa PCR [polymerase chain reaction] test,” Roque said in an online Palace briefing.

(You know what, that’s the personal decision of the leaders but if that happens, the government will be criticized for prioritizing VIPs just like what happened with the PCR test.)

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque   (Screenshot from PTV-4)

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