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Robredo: Important for public to see Duterte get COVID-19 vaccine to boost trust

By JULIA MARI ORNEDO,GMA News

It is important for the Filipino public to see President Rodrigo Duterte getting vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to allay fears about vaccines, Vice President Leni Robredo underscored again on Sunday.

In her weekly radio show, Robredo reiterated that she is willing to get a COVID-19 jab in public but stressed that Duterte must go first.

“Mahalaga kasi na iyong Pangulo talaga iyong manguna… Kasi nakita naman natin, ginawa ito sa lahat ng bansa para ma-boost iyong confidence ng tao sa bakuna, kasi marami ngayong pangamba sa safety nito,” she said.

Robredo said several other heads of state, such as US President Joe Biden and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, have gotten COVID-19 vaccines in public.

“Ang mensahe nito, ‘Wala kayong dapat ikatakot.’ ‘Di ba?” she said.

“Kung sabihin natin majority naman gustong magpaturok, wala namang necessity sa amin na magpaturok in public. Pero dahil ang baba ng confidence ng tao, kailangan nating magtulung-tulungan para maging confident iyong tao na wala silang dapat ikatakot magpabakuna.”

An OCTA Research poll earlier found that only 25% of Metro Manila residents were willing to get a COVID-19 vaccine. 

Another survey by Pulse Asia showed that 47% of Filipinos were not inclined to get a COVID-19 jab, mostly due to safety reasons. 

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Robredo’s spokesman previously said the Vice President was willing to get vaccinated in public in response to a challenge posed by Duterte’s long-time aide, Senator Bong Go. 

Last week, Malacañang said Duterte would take a COVID-19 vaccine but that his inoculation would not be televised. 

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said he would try to convince Duterte to take the jab in public. 

In August last year, Duterte said he was willing to get vaccinated in public.  — BM, GMA News