Robredo on delayed Covid-19 vaccination: ‘Naunahan pa tayo ng Bangladesh’

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday scored the delayed arrival of vaccines in the country, saying that even Bangladesh, a developing country, has already started its mass inoculation against Covid-19.

“Iyong ano sana, Ka Ely, iyong bakuna malaking bagay. Kung masiguro na natin—nagulat ako, Ka Ely, noong isang araw Bangladesh…Bangladesh nagsimula nang magbakuna. Naunahan pa tayo. Akala natin noong una, Ka Ely, nauunahan lang tayo noong mga mayayamang bansa, pero iyong Bangladesh nag-umpisa na,”  Robredo told radio anchor Ka Ely Saludar over Biserbisyong Leni at RMN DZXL 558.

(The vaccines would be a big help. If we can ensure its rollout, I was surprised when Bangladesh already started inoculation. We thought that only rich countries can beat us and yet Bangladesh has started vaccination.)

“Pero may aasahan naman yata tayo, Ka Ely. Dapat sana—dapat sana bukas, ‘di ba. Parang iyong unang announcement bukas na mag-uumpisa iyong vaccination pero mayroon yatang delay,” she added.

(But we already expect vaccines soon. It was supposed to arrive tomorrow but there was a delay.)

Last week, Bangladesh already launched its immunization campaign using the vaccine developed by  AstraZeneca. It aims to vaccinate 3.5 million people in February.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Friday announced that there will be a delay in the arrival of vaccines from the World Health Organization-led COVAX Facility for one week.

Galvez said they are fixing the indemnity agreement between COVAX and the Philippines to address further delays in the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccines.

/MUF