Roque on Duterte wanting to give COVID-19 vaccine on sleeping people: Joke only

President Rodrigo Duterte was only joking when he said those who do not want to get a COVID-19 vaccine will be injected a shot while they are sleeping.

"Alam na po natin ang sagot diyan. Joke only naman po (We already know the answer, it was a joke)," Roque said when asked on Unang Balita if the President was serious in his remark.

"Si Presidente naman po, habang nagto-Talk to the People, gusto mapatawa ang sarili niya. Joke po 'yun (The President wanted to have a laugh at himself while making his speech. It was a joke)," he added.

At least 23 million Filipinos are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The government initially targeted to fully vaccinate 70% of the country's 109 million population by December this year, but this has since been changed to 80% to 90% of the population before the May 9, 2022 national elections.

The region with the widest COVID-19 vaccine coverage at 77% is Metro Manila, the epicenter of the pandemic in the country.—AOL, GMA News