More senators slam Roque's remark that Pinoys can't be choosy in COVID-19 vaccines

More senators on Tuesday found it unfair for the Palace spokesman to say that Filipinos can't be choosy on which brand of COVID-19 vaccine would be administered under the government's immunization program.

"It’s bad enough that the national government virtually controls which brand/s of vaccines to procure. Pati ba naman ang pagpili kung ano ituturok sa braso ng mga Pilipino, hindi pa rin pwede mamili ang Pilipino?" Lacson said in a statement.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Roque's remark could trigger aversion to the vaccination program.

This was also the concern of Senators Risa Hontiveros and Joel Villanueva who urged the Palace to be more careful with its statements.

"Our government should be working on building confidence in the vaccine program, instead on toying around with their announcements at the risk of increasing people’s aversion to the vaccine," Villanueva said.

He cited survey results of Pulse Asia, which showed high vaccine hesitancy among Filipinos with 47% saying they would not get vaccinated against COVID-19 and 21% saying they were undecided.

"Let us not reduce the discussion of vaccination into a petty argument because it's not as simple as picking one basketball team over another. Our officials should be more circumspect with words because people’s lives are at stake here," Villanueva added.

Hontiveros also said Roque's remark sounded like "conform or get COVID-19."

"Sabi ni Sec. Roque, hindi pwede maging choosy. Pero sabi niya rin na si Presidente mismo ay namimili pa between Russian and Chinese vaccines. Kung si Presidente pwedeng mamili, dapat ang taumbayan ay malaya ding makakapili at kalusugan nila iyan," she said.

"We need to prove to the public that no matter where we procure the vaccine from, they can trust government to be faithful to the process from start to end—na walang lulusot pa na bakunang hindi ligtas," she added.

The public is looking at Malacañang for reassurance, and they deserve such, not threats, according to the senator.

On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said depriving Filipinos of choice when it comes to the COVID-19 that they will receive is unfair.

Roque made the controversial remark a day after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced that the country has secured a deal for 25 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese firm Sinovac.

“Totoo po, mayroon tayong lahat na karapatan para sa mabuting kalusugan pero hindi naman po pupuwede na pihikan dahil napakaraming Pilipino na dapat turukan,” Roque said at a press briefing.

“Wala pong pilian, wala kasing pilitan. Pero magsa-sign ka ng waiver na hindi ka nagpaturok at kapag ikaw ay mayroong prayoridad, siyempre mawawala ang prayoridad mo, sasama ka doon sa the rest ng taumbayan na naghihintay ng bakuna,” he added.

The Philippines targets to inoculate 50 to 70 million individuals within the year, and an estimated 50,000 is expected to be vaccinated in February.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the vaccine manufactured by American corporation Pfizer could be the first that will be used against COVID-19 in the country as the COVAX Facility will have an early rollout of the said brand. —KG, GMA News