Robredo ready to receive COVID-19 vaccine in public – spokesman

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo has already declared that she’s willing to be vaccinated before the public to encourage Filipinos to get immunized against Covid-19.

Her spokesman, Atty. Barry Gutierrez, reiterated this Wednesday in an apparent response to the challenge of long-time Duterte aide-turned-senator, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go.

“As early as the first week of December, VP Leni already declared her willingness to receive the vaccine in public to encourage all Filipinos to get vaccinated,” Gutierrez said in a statement.

In Robredo’s view, the government should prioritize ensuring a “safe, effective, and affordable” Covid-19 vaccine for “as many Filipinos as possible,” according to Gutierrez.

“She is more than ready to do her part in attaining these goals,” he said.

On Tuesday, Go dared the Vice President to get inoculated – alongside him and President Rodrigo Duterte – in public in order to inspire public trust in the Covid-19 vaccine. This comes after Robredo said vaccinating Duterte first against the new coronavirus disease will help boost the public’s confidence in the government’s inoculation drive.

However, Duterte’s mouthpiece, Secretary Harry Roque, has said the President is willing to receive the Covid-19 jab “as soon as it is available, but the inoculation will be done in private.”

In a Pulse Asia survey conducted from Nov. 23 to Dec. 2, it found that only 32 percent of 2,400 respondents said they would agree to receive the Covid-19  shots when available. Meanwhile, nearly half or 47 percent said they would refuse it due to safety concerns, and the remaining 21 percent were undecided.

KGA