Duque administers first COVID-19 shot at Lung Center of the Philippines

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday administered the first shot of COVID-19 vaccine to an official of the Lung Center of the Philippines.

The vaccine was administered to Dra. Eileen Aniceto, a pulmonologist and head of the Lung Center of the Philippines' emergency room.

In his speech during the symbolic vaccination at the facility, Duque urged the public to trust the government as it officially launched the vaccination drive.

"Magtiwala po kayo sa inyong gobyerno dahil ang pakay ng gobyerno ay ang interes ng taumbayan higit po sa lahat," said Duque, a doctor by profession, in a speech during the event, just one among several symbolic vaccinations scheduled within the day. 

Under the vaccination priority list, frontline workers in health facilities should be the first to get inoculated.

The “symbolic” vaccination followed the arrival of 600,000 Sinovac doses on Sunday afternoon.

The first batch of vaccines will be rolled out to several hospitals in Metro Manila also on Monday, marking a turning point in the country’s battle against COVID-19.

Aside from Lung Center of the Philippines, the priority hospitals for vaccination are the Philippine General Hospital, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium (Tala Hospital), PNP General Hospital, Pasig City General Hospital, and the V. Luna Medical Center. —KBK, GMA News