Screengrabbed from PTV FB page / INQUIRER.net / Noy Morocoso
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesman Harry Roque was not able to get vaccinated against Covid-19 on Monday since he did not make the cut in the first round of Sinovac vaccinations at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
PGH Director Gerardo “Gap” Legaspi said the hospital only prepared for 100 shots since it was only a ceremonial vaccination and they were able to inoculate 96 health workers in just an hour.
During the ceremonial vaccination, Roque could be seen getting pre-screened and assessed for immunization but he later revealed that he was not able to get vaccinated yet.
“Ako willing ako mapabakunahan kaya lang sabi ni Gap Legaspi ay ubos na yung 100 doses nila for the day so we will have to come back on another day,” Roque said in a press conference during the vaccination drive at PGH.
(I am willing to get vaccinated but Gap Legaspi said the 100 doses meant for the day has already been used so we will have to come back on another day.)
Legaspi was the first recipient of the Sinovac vaccine at PGH on Monday, followed by Food and Drug Administration Director General Eric Domingo and infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvana.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. were also able to make the cut for Sinovac vaccinations.
In a text message to reporters, Roque said he may get the Sinovac vaccine on Tuesday, instead.
“Wala na [No more] for the day. Might get tomorrow,” he said.
Legaspi said they would prepare better in the continuation of the vaccination drive on Tuesday.
“Bukas po paga-gandahin pa natin ang sistema para mas mabilis din,” Legaspi said.
(Tomorrow we will finetune the system so it will be faster.)
National Task Force against Covid-19 deputy chief implementer and testing czar Vince Dizon was also among government officials who received the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, meanwhile, skipped on getting vaccinated with a Sinovac shot since it is not recommended for someone his age. Sinovac vaccines are supposed to be administered to clinically healthy individuals aged 18 to 59 years old.
Duque is 64 years old.
The Department of Health said Duque will get immunized when the “appropriate” Covid-19 vaccine “becomes available.”
Government officials are getting vaccinated against Covid-19 in a bid to boost vaccine confidence among Filipinos.
In a recent survey done by Octa Research, a group of top academicians studying the coronavirus pandemic, only 19% of adult Filipinos are willing to get immunized against Covid-19 while 46% are unwilling even if an effective vaccine is available.
The government’s Covid-19 vaccination drive kicked off after 600,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines donated by China arrived in the country on Sunday.