Vaccination rollout in Bulacan. Image from Facebook / Provincial Government of Bulacan
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte told vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. to shuffle the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to prevent vaccinees from choosing their preferred brands.
“Sabi ko kay Secretary Galvez pati kay—ibabalasa ninyo. ‘Yung isang karton itapon mo sa isa, dito. So, ang magdating sa inyo, halo,” Duterte said during his Talk to the People late Tuesday.
(I told Secretary Galvez and—shuffle it. You distribute one box there, and one in the other. So, what you will receive is mixed.)
He also advised government medical workers to avoid favoritism as it could affect the vaccination rollout.
“Ang mga advise ko naman sa—kung nakikinig ‘yung mga medical people sa gobyerno—do not do some favoritism there kasi masisira talaga. You will just spoil everything,” the president said.
(My advice to—if government medical workers are listening—do not do some favoritism there because it will damage the process. You will just spoil everything.)
Duterte made the statement after someone, who he did not identify, said that he/she wanted vaccines made in the United States to be shipped in the country.
“Sabi ko ‘wag kayong mamili. Ngayon, mayroon na namang gustong—ayaw magpa-deliver ng iba kung hindi Pfizer pati Moderna. Sinasabi ko sa iyo, kung hindi totoo ‘yang mga bakuna na itong sa Sinovac pati Sinopharm, ito ‘yung unang nagdating, e ‘di marami nang patay,” he told the public.
(I said, do not choose. Now, someone does not want to deliver other brands. What he/she wants is Pfizer or Moderna. I’m telling you if vaccines like Sinovac and Sinopharm are not effective, many people should have died.)
“If they are not effective, they are not good, bakit ngayon halos wala nang patay (Why are deaths lesser)? And yet you continue to mingle, ignoring the rule of distancing at every opportunity,” Duterte went on.
As of October 18, 24,498,753 individuals, or 31.76 percent of the target of around 77 million in the country are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.