Duterte turns up at Villamor Airbase to welcome arrival of Sinovac vaccine

President Rodrigo Duterte arrived at the Villamor Airbase late Sunday afternoon to personally welcome the first shipment of coronavirus vaccines donated to the country by the Chinese government.

Duterte landed at the Airbase aboard a chopper as other government officials awaited the unloading of 600,000 doses from China’s Sinovac. 

A Chinese Y-20 Transporter aircraft carrying the first batch of vaccines landed in the Philippines a little past 4 p.m. 

Senator Bong Go, Duterte’s longtime aide, earlier said the President will get whatever COVID-19 vaccine is recommended

Earlier, the Food and Drug Administration did not recommend the Sinovac jab for health workers and senior citizens due to its lower efficacy rate, saying the Chinese vaccine is best for healthy individuals aged 18 to 59. 

Duterte will turn 76 this March.

The first shots will be administered in several COVID-19 referral centers across Metro Manila on Monday. 

But, health workers will not lose their priority status in the vaccination program if they decline the Sinovac shot. —LBG, GMA News