President Rodrigo Duterte will wait for his doctor’s advice on whether he will have himself injected with a Covid-19 vaccine booster shot, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
“Kung tatanggap ba siya, isasapubliko ba ang additional or booster shots, ay that’s actually between the president and his personal physician,” acting Palace spokesman Karlo Nograles said.
“Abangan na lang po natin kung ano maging advice ng kaniyang personal physician,” he added.
The president was vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine.
Duterte received the second dose of his Covid-19 vaccine late based on the advice of his doctor.
Duterte received his second Covid-19 vaccine dose on July 12, 70 days or 10 weeks after his first jab.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a three-to-four-week interval in administering two Sinopharm doses.
In July this year, former Palace spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte would not be receiving booster shots.
“Hindi po [siya magbo-booster shots] dahil sa isang ‘Talk to the People’ [address], sabi naman ni presidente, kinuha ang kaniyang antibodies at napakataas ng kaniyang antibody count,” Roque said.
Duterte is a senior citizen. The Philippines started inoculating senior citizens with booster shots inoculation on Nov. 22. John Ezekiel J. Hirro