Doctors’ OK needed for Duterte to get vaccinated in public, says Bong Go

LAOAG CITY—Whether President Rodrigo Duterte gets vaccinated for coronavirus in public depended on his doctors, according to Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, a close confidante of Duterte and his former top aide on Thursday (Feb. 11).

Go made the statement after Malacanang in January said the President decided to be vaccinated in private because he wanted to be injected in the butt.

Go was here for the opening of a Malasakit Center in Ilocos Norte in the provincial hospital.

According to Go, he talked with Duterte and the President was still considering the plan to be publicly vaccinated. But before doing so, his doctors must first agree to the plan, Go said.

He also said top government officials, including him and the President, were not asking to be given priority when vaccines arrive. He clarified, though, that it was important for them to be publicly vaccinated to convince Filipinos of the vaccines’ safety.

Aside from the President, Go said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. should also be the first ones to get the vaccine shots in public.

“Often our officials are pointing fingers about who wants to get vaccinated but don’t want to go first,” Go said in Filipino. “So our officials should be the first. Not because they are priority but because they should gain the confidence of Filipinos,” said Go.

Calls, including from the Office of the Vice President, have been made for Duterte to get vaccinated in public to boost Filipinos’ confidence on vaccines.

On Feb. 8, Malacañang said the initial batch of the vaccines would arrive in the country mid-February or next week.

TSB