It is said that President Rodrigo Duterte no longer plans to be the first one to get vaccinated against COVID-19 once the vaccines arrive in the country.
According to the President, front liners and important workers in the country are still a priority.
“Ang mga frontline na health workers; mauna ang teachers at social workers and other government workers; and three, essential workers outside health, education, social welfare, for example, agriculture, food, tourism and ‘yung may contact talaga sa tao; then the socio-demographic groups at tingnan natin kung sino ang mauna sa kanila. Then there are the overseas Filipino workers; all remaining workers; other remaining workers; then, all remaining citizens,” he said.
The soldiers and police are said to be only in the fifth priority of vaccination and after them, the President is next in line.
“Mga sundalo natin, kasama kayo sa mga priority. Pero mauna talaga ‘yung mga pobre, ‘yung wala talaga, tapos kayo,” said Duterte.
“Kung may maiwan, eh ‘di para sa atin. Unahin natin sila.”
This is contrary to his earlier statements that he can be the first to get vaccinated so that people will not be afraid or apprehensive about getting the vaccine.
He also said earlier that the police and military will be the first to be vaccinated.
Also read: Metro Manila health workers first to get China-made COVID-19 vaccine
Duterte willing to be the last one to get COVID-19 vaccine
The President explained that geographical and sectoral issues will be considered in giving priority to vaccination so that there will be no discrimination.
The government is still targeting to vaccinate all 110 million people in the country, but the government will not force anyone to get it.
“Ngayon, kung mayroong mga tao na ayaw, eh ‘di mas mabuti mauna natin ‘yung gusto, at we can tone down the orders kung sobra-sobra na,” Duterte said.
The government said the COVID-19 vaccination priority list includes:
- 1st priority: frontline health workers
- 2nd priority: indigent senior citizens
- 3rd priority: remaining senior citizens
- 4th priority: remaining indigent population
- 5th priority: uniformed personnel (PNP, AFP, PCG, BFP, CAFGU)