Robredo ready to take vaccine in public

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo is “more than ready” to take COVID-19 vaccine shots in public to allay fears of its safety, her spokesman said yesterday.

Barry Gutierrez was reacting to Sen. Bong Go’s challenge to Robredo to be among the first to take the vaccination to help build the confidence of the public.

“As early as the first week of December, VP Leni already declared her willingness to receive the vaccine in public to encourage all Filipinos to get vaccinated,” Gutierrez said in a statement.

“In her view, government should have two priorities on this issue: ensuring the availability of a safe, effective and affordable vaccine, and ensuring that as many Filipinos as possible receive it. She is more than ready to do her part in attaining these goals,” he said.

Last week, President Duterte said he is ready to be among the last in the country to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to give way to priority groups and citizens, especially the poor and frontline workers.

In other countries like Singapore and Indonesia, heads of government received the vaccination in public to reassure the people about the safety and efficacy of the COVID shots.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte would be vaccinated behind closed doors.

Robredo earlier said Duterte’s popularity would help in convincing the public to be inoculated.

“Surveys showed that the President is very popular, so this would help to boost the confidence of our countrymen if they see him (getting the COVID-19 vaccines),” the Vice President said in her program over radio dzXL on Sunday.

“As a general rule, public officials should be the last to receive benefits, but it’s different when we talk about the (COVID-19) vaccines because of the very low confidence of our people in getting vaccinated,” she said.