Duterte eyes getting first shot of Russian vaccine vs. COVID-19

Russia may be giving the Philippines its vaccines against COVID-19 for free, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday.

In a briefing aired on Monday night, Duterte thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for making the vaccines available to the Philippines.

“Maligayang-maligaya ako kasi ang Russia kaibigan natin ito. Wala tayong away sa Russia. Ang ano nila is bibigay sila ng bakuna, wala naman silang sinasabing ‘Bayaran mo,’” Duterte said.

“Ito tingin ko kay President Putin, tulong niya sa atin, libre. Kaya ngayon, tinatanggap natin at kung ano ang supply, mag-usap pa kami kung ilan ang kailangan natin,” he added.

Duterte said he was willing to be the first Filipino to receive the anti-COVID-19 shots which Russia had developed.

He said COVID-19 vaccines will be distributed by Russia worldwide by September or October after clinical studies are completed.

“Ako pagdating ng bakuna in public, para walang satsat diyan, in public magpa-injection ako,” Duterte said.

“Ako ‘yong unang ma-eksperimentuhan. Okay para sa akin,” he added. -NB, GMA News