Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III agreed to get the first dose of the vaccine for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) once it becomes available in the Philippines.
Duque was reacting to Senador Bong Go’s challenge for the health secretary and Covid-19 National Task Force czar Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. to be the first ones to receive the Covid-19 vaccine in the Philippines to earn the public’s trust and convince them that the vaccine is safe.
“Yes [I will do it]. Definitely. That is a no brainer. Sure. No problem,” Duque said in an interview with ANC.
“I will take it as long as it has undergone scientific evaluation of the Department of Science and Technology’s Vaccine Experts Panel, the Ethics Board Review and the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] which will conduct its own regulatory assessment,” he added.
The government is aiming to vaccinate 50 to 60 percent of the country’s population to acquire herd immunity.
The Covid-19 vaccine must pass all three stages before the government allows it for distribution in the country. RJ Espartinez