Manila mayor willing to receive Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine

City of Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. (Photo from the Manila City Mayor’s Office)

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Friday said he is willing to receive the Covid-19 vaccine produced by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac. 

Moreno said he is willing to be vaccinated with any vaccine against the new coronavirus as long as it has secured necessary approvals from the government. 

 “Yes, and I will encourage some [to do the same],” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel when asked if he is willing to receive Covid-19 vaccine doses from Sinovac as long as it has secured required permits.

 “I will remind them of the principle of temperature, anything above zero is positive. So if I will have 50 percent protection in my body, it is still better than zero,” he explained. 

 Moreno admitted that he was previously “half-hearted” about the vaccine from Sinovac but his perception changed after seeing Indonesian President Joko Widodo getting the Covid-19 vaccine from the Chinese firm. 

 “This is now my personal belief. Sertipikahan ng FDA (Food and Drug Administration) at ng mga espesyalista ng ating bansa na ito ay ligtas at nagkamit ng EUA (emergency use authorization), anuman ang product na ‘yan, kahit saan pa sila galing, at ‘yung ating mga espesyalista have affixed their name and signature there, ituturok ko sa katawan ko,” the mayor said.

 (This is now my personal belief. If the FDA certifies it and issues an EUA and experts say this is safe, whatever product that is, I am willing to have it inject into my body.)

 In a separate radio interview, Domagoso also said he will be among the first to receive a Covid-19 vaccine and that his vaccination will be done in public, to help increase generate public trust and confidence in the the government’s vaccination program. 

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