Velasco willing to be one of the first to receive COVID-19 vaccine

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said Monday he is willing to be one of the first ones to get inoculated with COVID-19 vaccine to raise public confidence, adding that elected leaders should show Filipinos the need to be vaccinated.

Velasco made the remark following the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac in the Philippines.

“Of course, one of the things nga na sinasabi ko is that yung vaccine program natin, yung ating elected leaders should be in forefront of to be able to show the people na talagang kinakailangan natin ng bakuna,” Velasco said told reporters when asked if he is willing to be one of the first ones to get vaccinated to boost public confidence.

(Of course, one of the things I am saying that elected leaders should be in forefront of this vaccination program to be able to show the people that this vaccine is needed.)

“Talaga namang kinakailangan natin para matapos na po, hindi naman sa matapos, pero macontrol ‘yung pagspread ng pandemic,” the House Speaker added.

(We really need this pandemic to be over—well, not over—but control the spread.)

Velasco said Congress is “working hard” to ensure legislations are in place to help with the rollout of the vaccination program.

The Philippines received its first shipment of Covid-19 vaccines on Sunday, with the arrival of 600,000 doses of the vaccine made by Sinovac.

JE