‘Not impossible’ for Duterte to receive COVID-19 vaccine first — Palace

Malacañang on Thursday said it was not impossible that President Rodrigo Duterte will be the first to receive the vaccine against COVID-19.

Duterte told the nation on Wednesday night that frontliners and vulnerable sectors will get the first dibs on the potentially life-saving vaccines, adding he will be among the last to get it.

The President previously said he was willing to get inoculated in public and volunteered to get the first shot.

Explaining the President’s latest pronouncement, Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte only emphasized the need to vaccinate the priority groups.

“Sinabi po niya iyon kagabi dahil ang mensahe niya dapat mauna talaga ang mga dukha, ang mga mahirap na mabigyan ng proteksiyon. And to emphasize that point ang sabi nga niya, ‘Tayong mga nasa Gabinete, huli na tayo,’” Roque said at a news conference.

“Pero kung talagang kinakailangan na mauna ang Presidente para magkaroon ng kumpiyansa ang taumbayan, hindi ko naman po sinasabing imposibleng mangyari pa rin iyon dahil sinabi nga niya noon na mauuna siyang magpabakuna,” he added.

The Philippines targets to inoculate up to 70 million individuals this year, with vaccinations slated to begin in February. —LDF, GMA News