‘Tara na, magpaturok tayo,’ Duque rallies The Medical City staff to get Sinovac jab

No less than Health Secretary Francisco Duque III gave a health worker the shot in the arm during the ceremonial vaccination rollout at The Medical City (TMC).

“Tara na, luminya na po tayo. Magpaturok na po tayo. ‘Wag na po tayo magkaroon ng mga agam-agam o pagdududa,” he said.

Three doctors and a nurse received the vaccine developed by Chinese firm Sinovac on Wednesday, according to Raffy Tima’s report on "24 Oras."

On Thursday, more than 400 TMC personnel have registered to be vaccinated with Sinovac’s vaccine.  

One of the four TMC healthcare workers who were vaccinated was Ferdinand Aganon, the head of the Nursing Services Division.

“You take the lead to be vaccinated. Sana sumunod lahat din na magpa-vaccine para matapos na itong pandemya,” he said.

Aganon has been serving TMC for more than 20 years. He said his hardest experience occurred during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

“Sobrang daming pasyente na ang dating ay wala nang mapaglalagyan sa ospital,” he said.

Though some were expecting to get inoculated with AstraZeneca’s vaccine, TMC said it was grateful for the donation by Sinovac.

“The vaccination drive is premised on the fact that the vaccines that are going to be made available and approved by the FDA of the Philippines are safe and effective,” TMC President Dr. Eugenio Ramos said.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News