“Yes, definitely. That’s a no brainer. I’ll take it for as long as it has undergone the scientific evaluation by the [Department of Science and Technology’s] vaccine experts panel and the ethics board review and the [Food and Drug Administration’ own technical and regulatory evaluation,” Duque said in an interview Monday.
He also said he would be willing to be vaccinated even if a vaccine had only undergone an emergency authorization by the FDA.
“Yes, sure (I will get vaccinated). No problem. I can also get and encourage all my fellow cabinet members, all the other officials of government to join me,” Duque added.
Pro-administration Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go recently challenged Duque and vaccine czar and National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief Carlito Galvez Jr. to take the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine once it becomes available in the country to allay the fears of some Filipinos regarding its safety and efficacy.
The government is targeting to inoculate 50 to 60% of the country’s population to achieve herd immunity, wherein enough people in a specific area are protected against the infectious disease.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the government may tap 73 billion pesos or $1.51 billion worth of loans to purchase the Covid-19 vaccines for 60 million people.
