Roque: Robredo welcome to take Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine

Vice President Leni Robredo is welcome to take the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Wednesday. 

Roque said Robredo is qualified to take the said vaccine, which is expected to be the first vaccine to be delivered to the country as announced by him, because she has expressed willingness to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

He added that Robredo falls within the age range which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found Sinovac to be effective for. 

The FDA, in approving the emergency use authorization for Sinovac, said that the Chinese vaccine posted a 65.3% to 91.2% efficacy rate among clinically healthy individuals aged 18 to 59 years old. 

It however said that Sinovac is not recommended for health workers since its efficacy rate only reached 50% in that group.

"Kung gusto niya, she is welcome to do so,” Roque said during a Palace briefing. 

“Pasok na pasok siya. Hindi pa naman siya senior [citizen],” he added.

Robredo is 55 years old. 

A senior citizen is an individual aged 60 years old and above. 

Robredo will be getting a COVID-19 vaccine in public to boost the public’s vaccine confidence, her camp said last month.

The delivery date of 600,000 doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government, however, is yet to be ascertained at this point.

Helen Yang, the general manager of Sinovac Biotech on Wednesday said the 600,000 coronavirus vaccine doses are ready for shipment to the Philippines.

“I think it (the delivery) will be soon, we’re working hard to make it happen,” she added.

Robredo on Sunday expressed worry over the delay in the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines, which was initially set for the second week of February. —KG, GMA News