Palace: Senior citizen Duterte among 1st to get vaccine

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has said he would be among the last to receive a COVID vaccine if there’s any left over, to give way to the poor and other priority sectors.

Yesterday, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that Duterte, being a senior citizen, is expected to be one of the first to receive a COVID jab once the government starts its inoculation program this month.

Roque said Duterte, who turns 76 next month, may have to get a COVID-19 shot to boost the public’s confidence in vaccines.

“The President will enjoy priority because he is a senior citizen. Of course, it is also important for him to be vaccinated to achieve vaccine confidence. So we expect him to be one of the first. Whether it is done publicly or privately will be his decision,” he added.

Roque recently said Duterte would be vaccinated privately because the President prefers to get the shots in his buttocks, a remark that drew flak from critics who called on him to take the inoculation more seriously.

He noted that members of Duterte’s family won’t be prioritized in the vaccination unless they have comorbidities or existing health problems.

“But since the children of the President are public officials, they may also help boost vaccine confidence. But we don’t have a date yet and we do not know if they would agree to be among the first… I can only speak for the President,” Roque said.

Duterte’s eldest son Paolo is the representative of Davao City’s 1st district while his daughter Sara is mayor of Davao City. Youngest son Sebastian is vice mayor.

The rollout of the Philippines’ vaccination program is expected to begin this month. Citing a letter by the COVAX facility, Roque said the first batch of vaccines would be delivered to the Philippines by mid-February.

“What I will say is the COVAX facility said it (would) arrive mid-February. As far as we’re concerned, we are ready to start the vaccination and we are ready to do it by Feb. 15,” he said.

“So if it arrives, and we only need a day or two to start the vaccination, we will proceed. Regardless of when it actually arrives, we will be ready by Feb. 15. In fact, we’re ready now as you heard from the mayors,” added Roque, who revealed that he is in isolation because one of his staff members tested positive for COVID-19.

Under the government’s vaccination program, frontline workers in health facilities, health professionals and non-professionals like students, nursing aides, janitors and barangay health workers will be the top priority for inoculation.

They are followed by senior citizens, persons with comorbidities or existing health problems, frontline personnel in essential sectors including uniformed personnel and those working in sectors identified as essential by the government’s pandemic task force during the enforcement of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

Next in the list are indigent population not included in the preceding categories, teachers and social workers, other government workers, other essential workers, socio-demographic groups at significantly higher risk other than senior citizens and indigenous people, overseas Filipino workers, other remaining work force and the rest of the Filipino population.

Follow prioritization

Meanwhile, the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC) yesterday asked Filipinos to be vigilant by closely guarding the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program against those who will cut into the line.

Dr. Aileen Espina, HPAAC member, said at a press briefing that the public should keep an eye on vaccination because there are people who may disregard the list of prioritized vaccinees and just jump the line.

“This is our vaccine. It is our duty and our responsibility to call out anyone who is cutting the line, call out anyone not following the prioritization program of the government,” she noted.

HPAAC member Antonio Dans underscored that the “black market” of vaccines is also a concern for them because it will undermine the inoculation program. He cautioned that the underground selling of vaccines puts lives of vaccinees at risk.

“It’s dangerous if you buy from black market, there is no assurance about the quality and safety of the vaccines. The way they are stored and transported are in question,” Dans said.

He added that the public should make sure the vaccines they receive have undergone evaluation by experts and the regulatory processes of the Food and Drug Administration.

He said they are alarmed that vaccines are being peddled now primarily on social media, with some unscrupulous individuals asking for reservation or advance payment.

According to Dans, all vaccines available now do not have marketing authorization but only an emergency use authorization (EUA), which means that these could not be sold commercially yet.

“It can be a scam. You’re buying from people who are not authorized to sell,” he maintained.

Dans had advised those who are not included in priority list but are willing to be inoculated to register if their company or local government unit has their own vaccination program. – Sheila Crisostomo