Galvez eyes probe on Rep. Tan over Sinovac jab; solon ready to face probe

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Thursday said they will conduct an investigation in case Quezon Representative Helen Tan overlooked the prioritization protocols when she got herself vaccinated by Sinovac's vaccine against COVID-19.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Galvez was asked about the vaccination of two individuals, including Tan who said she is part of her son's allocation for the family at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center. Tan's son is a surgeon at VMMC.

But according to Galvez, there is no such directive as of now.

“Wala pong directive na ganun. Mali po 'yun. Ang ano po natin is lahat ng [medical frontliners], yung 1.7 million na frontliners muna sa ngayon [ang babakunahan],” Galvez said.

“Wala po munang mga dependent kasi ang ano po natin we're protecting the institution. Kulang po tayo [ng vaccines]. Mali po 'yun. We will investigate on that just in case meron pong nangyaring ganun,” he added.

Aside from healthcare workers, their three beneficiaries can also receive the vaccine, but Galvez said the ongoing rollout only covers healthcare workers and that their dependents are not yet included.

Tan ready to face probe

In a statement, Tan said she received the shot because she wants to help boost vaccine confidence among the public, which was low based on surveys prior to the March 1 rollout of the government's vaccination program.  

"As far as I know, I did not violate any existing laws, legal guidelines or regulations whatsoever when I took the jab," she said.

She said she is ready to submit herself to an investigation "to satisfy the thirst for strife and controversy of some misguided individuals."

Tan appealed to the public not to perceive her vaccination as "VIP treatment."

"I would like to ask the public not to perceive this as a VIP treatment, since it is totally false and misguided, inasmuch as I am a legal dependent, an immediate family member of a frontliner working as a medical professional at the VMMC," she said.

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Ferdinand Gaite, meanwhile,  on branded as "selective" the investigation being sought by Galvez Jr.

"Selective itong si Galvez sa kung sino ang dapat imbestigahan. Talagang based doon sa sinasabi ni Cong. Helen Tan na health worker naman, actually doctor ang kaniyang anak, tama naman... sila dapat ang mauna. Lahat ng health care workers para 'yung mag-aadminister ng vaccine, safe and secure," Gaite said.

Other execs

Interior and Local Government spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya also received the vaccine at Pasay City General Hospital.

He claimed he can be considered a frontliner considering that DILG officials always go outside to perform their duty. He said he was advised by his doctor to already get the shot against COVID-19.

Pasay City Vice Mayor Noel Boyet Del Rosario and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chief of Staff Michael Salalima also received the vaccine.

At Sta. Ana Hospital in Manila, Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, who is a doctor, got the shot to convince the public to get vaccinated.

President Rodrigo Duterte allowed the vaccination of only three officials: National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF) chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., NTF deputy chief Vince Dizon, and MMDA chairperson Benhur Abalos.

The Department of Health said it will also investigate the inoculation of some individuals who are not medical frontliners.

Galvez asked government leaders to give way to healthcare workers in the vaccination considering that the supply of vaccines is currently limited. —KBK, GMA News