Lorenzana gets Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine against Duque's advice

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday received the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Sinovac despite Health Secretary Francisco Duque III's advice against it due to his old age.

According to Rgil Relator’s report on “24 Oras,” Lorenzana previously said that Duque told him there were other vaccines appropriate for his age of 72 such as AstraZeneca’s vaccine.

GMA News has sought Lorenzana for comment.

Meanwhile, more than 200 personnel of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) were vaccinated against COVID-19 on the first day of the vaccination rollout in the Davao Region.

To encourage more healthcare workers to get the vaccine, SPMC OIC Ricardo Odan was the first to be vaccinated with Duque administering the vaccine.

“I’m actually happy, elated, and protected, no with the vaccines,” Odan said.

The second personnel to get vaccinated was SPMC Adult Infectious Specialist Dr. Marie Yvette Barez.

"The sooner that the people are being vaccinated, the faster that we can go back or start the new normal,” she said.

Inter-Agency Task Force executives and cabinet secretaries attended the launching program of the vaccination.

“Tatanggap ng mga bakunang ito at ako’y maging ehemplo para sa buong bayan. Na sa pagtanggap ninyo ng mga bakunang ito, naway makakabigay ito ng mas mataas na kumpiyansa para sa buong Mindanao, sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan, na tanggapin ang bakuna pagdating ang oras at araw po nila,” Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said. -Joahna Lei Casilao/NB, GMA News