PRRD receives first COVID-19 jab

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte received his first shot of  COVID-19 vaccine on Monday evening (May 3).

Per information posted on Senator Christopher Bong Go’s official Facebook page, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III administered the Sinopharm vaccine to the President.

According to the post, “Nitong Lunes, Mayo 3, binakunahan si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte kontra COVID-19.”

“Si DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III mismo ang nag-administer ng bakuna sa Pangulo sa Malacañang Palace. Sinopharm ang ginamit sa kanya, ayon sa desisyon rin ng kanyang mga doktor.”

The President got the shot not only to protect his own health, as a senior citizen, but also to set an example for fellow Filipinos and to assure them “na huwag dapat tayo matakot sa bakuna.”

“Ayon kay Tatay Digong, nagpabakuna siya para hindi lang maprotektahan ang kanyang kalusugan mula sa COVID-19, kundi para rin hikayatin ang ating mga mamamayan na magpabakuna.

“Bilang isang senior citizen, kasama siya sa prayoridad na dapat mabakunahan.”

The senator’s post also informed the public that they should be afraid of coronavirus disease rather than the vaccine, which is the solution to the pandemic and the key to returning to normalcy.

“Matakot tayo sa COVID-19. Suportahan natin ang ating National Vaccination Program at magtiwala tayo sa bakuna, dahil ito ang solusyon upang malampasan ang krisis na ito at ang tanging susi tungo sa ating pagbalik sa normal na pamumuhay.”

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed this news to PTV in a message:

“This confirms that PRRD received his first dose tonight of the Sinopharm anti- Covid 19 vaccine. His first dose was covered by the compassionate [special] permit issued to the PSG hospital by the FDA.”

The Chief Executive has repeatedly expressed his preference to  get inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Sinopharm of China.  -jlo

Read more: PRRD insists to wait for doc’s advice before getting vax