MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Wednesday called on Vice President Leni Robredo to join administration officials who will be among the first in the country to receive the Sinovac vaccine, CoronaVac, and help boost public confidence.
In his regular online briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Robredo, 55, is qualified to be inoculated with the China-made jab, which was recommended for use on people aged 18 to 59.
“Kung papayagan tayo ng National Task Force at ng Department of Health ay kasama tayo sa mauunang magpabakuna para magbigay kumpiyansa sa ating mga kababayan para mawala ang kanilang agam agam,” Roque said.
(If the National Task Force and the Department of Health will allow us, we will be among the first to be vaccinated to boost the public’s confidence in the vaccine and to allay their fears.)
“Kung gusto po ni Vice President, she’s welcome to join also at kung inyong matatandaan sa kanyang mga naging pahayag sa media ay magboboluntaryo naman po sya bilang Vice President,” he added.
(If the Vice President wants, she’s welcome to join also and as you can remember, she also volunteered to get vaccinated as the country’s Vice President.)
Robredo previously said she is willing to be vaccinated against Covid-19 in public.
But Roque’s invitation to the Vice President was not clear whether the CoronaVac will be administered to them publicly.
The Philippines is planning to start its Covid-19 vaccinations using the Sinovac vaccines – of which 600,000 doses donated by the Chinese government might arrive in the coming days.