Duque, Galvez to get Sinovac vaccines on Monday morning —Go

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. are set to receive a Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine shot on Monday morning to boost public confidence in the vaccine, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go said Sunday.

In an interview with Dobol B TV, Go confirmed that Duque and Galvez will receive the Sinovac vaccine on Monday after 600,000 doses of it get delivered on Sunday afternoon.

Galvez, for one, will get the vaccine jab at the Philippine General Hospital, while Duque will have it either at the East Avenue Medical Center or at the Lung Center of the Philippines, Go added.

"Kahit hindi pa dumarating ang mga susunod na mga bakuna, mauna na sila. Ibig sabihin nagtiwala sila sa bakunang ito," he said.

"Mauuna na silang magpapabakuna para ipakita sa publiko na magtiwala tayo sa ating gobyerno at sa ginagawa ng gobyerno na tanging ang bakuna lang ang pag-asa," he added.

Go said that he and President Rodrigo Duterte will also get a COVID-19 vaccine, although the jab that will be inoculated to the President will depend on the advice of his doctors considering his age.

Sinovac was earlier said to be recommended to clinically healthy individuals aged 18 to 59 years old. Duterte will turn 76 this March.

"Depende 'yan sa kanyang doktor. Kapag sinabi niyang puwede ito, Sinovac, Sinopharm or AstraZeneca o Moderna, kung ano ang sinabi ng doktor sa kanya, 'yun ang ituturok sa kanya," Go said.

"Pero hindi na question kung magpapabakuna siya o hindi. Sure na magpapabakuna dahil kailangan ipakita ng Pangulo na dapat magpabakuna ang ating mga kababayan," he added.

Apart from the 600,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine, the Philippines will also receive 525,600 doses of COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by AstraZeneca on Monday at around noon.

Galvez said the arrival of more than 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines starting Sunday officially kicks off the national vaccination program.

The Philippines targets to inoculate 50 to 70 million individuals within the year. —KG, GMA News