Duque to try to convince Duterte to publicly get COVID-19 shot

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday said he will try to convince President Rodrigo Duterte to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in public to boost vaccine confidence among Filipinos.

While Duterte has said he will take the vaccine as soon as it is available, he believes it does need to be shown to the public, his spokesperson Harry Roque said earlier this week.

When Senator Nancy Binay, during a hearing, asked Duque if he would convince the president otherwise, he said: "We will try our best to convince the president to perhaps publicly allow himself to be vaccinated, but we will respect his ultimate decision, whatever it is."

Roque earlier said that Duterte would follow the example of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, whose vaccination was only announced after she and her husband Prince Philip had received their first shots.

US President Joe Biden, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are among the world leaders whose vaccinations were made in public.

According to a Pulse Asia survey, only 32% of Filipinos said they are willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. A near majority, or 47%, said they are not inclined to be inoculated.

Another survey by OCTA Research showed that only one out of four Metro Manila residents are willing to be vaccinated.

Duque earlier said the DOH will launch a "massive social marketing campaign" to encourage the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19.—LDF, GMA News