Duterte to seek doc's advice on getting COVID-19 vax in public —Bong Go

President Rodrigo Duterte will seek his doctor’s advice as to whether he should get his COVID-19 vaccine in public to boost vaccine confidence, his former aide, Senator Bong Go, said Friday.

"Nagkausap na rin kami ni Pangulong Duterte. Plano na rin n'yang magpabakuna kung pumayag na po ang kanyang doktor at dapat po itong isa-publiko para makuha po ang kumpiyansa ng mga Pilipino para magpabakuna ang iba,” Go told reporters after the opening of a Malasakit Center in Gov. Roque Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

In a statement, Go said he is willing to join Duterte in getting vaccinated in public.

"Nagkausap rin po kami ni Pangulong Duterte, kapag nagbigay na po ng clearance ang kanyang mga doktor, ay willing po kami magpabakuna po sa publiko," he said. "Siya po bilang Presidente, ako po bilang Senador."

On Thursday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte has already decided on whether he should get his COVID-19 vaccine in public, but added he is not authorized to disclose the President's decision.

As public servants, Go said he and Duterte are willing to set an example and get the confidence of the Filipinos on COVID-19 vaccines.

"[This is] not because kaming mga opisyales ay prayoridad sa bakuna. Pero bilang isang ehemplo, to get the confidence of the Filipino people, ang mga opisyales, si Pangulong Duterte, si Sec. [Carlito] Galvez, Sec. [Francisco] Duque ay dapat po manguna sa pagpapabakuna," he said.

Go assured the public that the government will ensure that the COVID-19 vaccines that will reach the country are safe and effective.

Two COVID-19 vaccines have been issued emergency use authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) so far: Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca.

The FDA found that the COVID-19 vaccine Pfizer-BioNTech will reach its 92% to 95% efficacy rate after two doses administered 21 days apart.

On the other hand, the FDA said AstraZeneca's vaccines have a 70% efficacy rate after the first dose — a rate that increases after the second dose is administered four to 12 weeks after.

The first batch of at least 117,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine under the COVAX Facility is expected to arrive in the country within the month.  —Llanesca T. Panti/KBK, GMA News