Palace: First family not given priority in Covid-19 vaccination

MANILA, Philippines — While President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to be one of the first who will get vaccinated against Covid-19, his family will not be given priority in the vaccination, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte will enjoy priority in the vaccination because he is a senior citizen and it is also important that he gets vaccinated to boost vaccine confidence.

His family, unless they have co-morbidities, are not prioritized in vaccination.

“Inaasahan natin na isa siya [President] sa pinakauna [mabakunahan], whether it is done publicly or privately, that will be his decision,” Roque said in a Palace briefing.

“Ang First family po, unless mayroong co-morbidity, ay hindi talaga sila mabibigyan ng prayordidad,” he added.

(The First family, unless they have co-morbidities, they cannot be given priority.)

However, since President Duterte’s children — Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte — are public officials, Roque said they can also help boost vaccine confidence by getting inoculated.

“Dahil public officials ang mga anak ng ating Pangulo, baka naman makipagtulungan din sila para maboost ang vaccine confidence pero wala pang petsa kung kailan at kung sila ay papayag na mabakunahan,” the Palace official said.

(Because the President’s children are public officials, maybe they can also help boost vaccine confidence but there is no date yet or whether they will want to get vaccinated.)

The Philippine government has identified the detailed priority population in its Covid-19 vaccination program which now includes more sectors like teachers, social and government workers, overseas Filipino workers and more.

JE