Vaccinate Duterte first vs COVID-19 to boost confidence on inoculation — Robredo

MANILA, Philippines — Vaccinating President Rodrigo Duterte first against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) will help boost the public’s confidence in the vaccination program, Vice President Leni Robredo said Sunday.

In her regular radio program Biserbisyong Leni, Robredo noted that Duterte remains to be very popular to the public based on surveys.

“Sobrang popular ni Pangulo, so makakatulong sana to boost ‘yung confidence ng ating mga kababayan kung makita siya [magpabakuna],” she said when asked if she thinks it will help if Duterte will be the first to get the vaccine shot.

(The President is so popular, so I think it will help boost public confidence if they will see him being vaccinated.)

While the “general rule” is that public officials should be the last in the line to get certain benefits, Robredo pointed out that vaccination is different from other government programs, especially with the low public confidence in vaccination.

“Makakatulong na kung sino ‘yung tinitingala nila eh makita nila, ipakita sa kanila na walang dapat ipangamba. So ako lang, sana tine-take into consideration ‘yung mga ganito,” Robredo said, noting that some leaders in other countries received their vaccine shots in public.

(It will help if they see the one they admire getting vaccinated and showing them that there is nothing to worry about. For me, they should take this into consideration.)

A survey from the Social Weather Stations conducted in September last year showed that 66 percent of adult Filipinos are willing to get vaccinated against Covid-19, with 32 percent saying they “definitely would get the vaccine” and 34 percent saying they “probably would get the vaccine.”

Meanwhile, a similar survey conducted by Pulse Asia from late November to early December last year showed that almost half or 47 percent of Filipinos said they will not get themselves vaccinated against the disease.

/MUF