Don’t trust comedians' views on COVID-19 vaccines –Palace

After a comedian and television host criticized the government’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday asked the public not to heed these views but instead listen to expert opinions.

While Roque did not identify the comedian, Vice Ganda took a dig at the Palace official for his statement last week that Filipinos could not choose which vaccine they will receive for free from the government.

Vice Ganda aired his sentiment on social media on January 12, a day after Roque made the controversial remark.

“Sa sabong panlaba nga choosy tayo e sa bakuna pa kaya. Ano to basta may maisaksak lang?! Vaklang twoooaahhh!!!” the comedian wrote on Twitter.

“Mali naman na ikukumpara ang bakuna sa sabon na panlaba. Ang katunayan po, wala naman pong supply na ganoon kadami. Nag-aagawan nga po tayo, sa 18% na available na supply,” Roque duringa  news conference.

The Palace spokesperson reiterated that vaccines undergo a strict evaluation process before they can be administered in the Philippines even for emergency use.

“Pangalawa, hindi lang naman po ito gagamitin para sa damit. Kaya nga po hindi lang isa, hindi lang dalawa kung hindi tatlong grupo pa ng eksperto ang magsusuri kung ang mga bakuna ay ligtas at epektibo,” he said.

“Kung hindi naman natin pagtitiwalaan ang mga experts na tatlong batches of experts pa ang magsasabing puwede nating gamitin iyan at magiging basehan para mag-issue ang FDA [Food and Drug Administration] ng EUA [emergency use authorization], eh sino ang ating pagkakatiwalaan? Siguro po hindi ang mga komedyante.”

He said experts earned their credentials over time.

“Pag-ingatan natin kung sino ang pakikinggan natin,” he said. "Huwag po tayong maniwala doon sa mga lima-singkong mga eksperto dahil marami po diyan nagpapansin lang.”

The Philippines targets to inoculate up to 70 million individuals this year, with vaccinations slated to begin in February.

Getting vaccinated, however, was purely voluntary. — DVM, GMA News