Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo
Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo is willing to be inoculated with the Covid-19 vaccines in public to allay vaccine hesitancy in the country.
Ibarra Gutierrez, Robredo’s spokesman, made the pronouncement after Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go challenged the vice president to receive anti-Covid shots.
“Pagkatapos ni Pangulong Duterte or sabay, ikaw naman VP Leni Robredo ang magpaturok din, ipakita mo rin sa… sabay-sabay tayo,” Go said.
“Ako po ay hinahamon ko kayo para makuha natin ang kumpiyansa ng bawat Pilipino, ipakita natin na sabay-sabay tayong magpa-turok,” he added.
Gutierrez said Robredo had been vocal about her willingness to receive the Covid-19 vaccines since last year.
“As early as the first week of December, Vice President Leni already declared her willingness to receive the vaccine in public to encourage all Filipinos to get vaccinated,” Gutierrez said.
“In her view, the 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,” Gutierrez added.
Malacañang earlier said President Rodrigo Duterte was willing to receive the first shot of the Sinovac vaccines from China once they reach the Philippines, but his vaccination would not be held in public—a retraction of the president’s earlier promise to be the vaccine’s “guinea pig” in the country.
Results of a Pulse Asia survey released earlier this month showed that only 47 percent of Filipinos were “not inclined” to get vaccinated for Covid-19.
Before the country’s Covid-19 vaccination program kicks off, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the government would launch a “massive” information campaign to encourage Filipinos to line up for the vaccines. John Ezekiel J. Hirro