By NG Seruela
On Wednesday (May 26), President Rodrigo Duterte once again told the public not to choose one COVID-19 vaccine brand over another, following reports of many Filipinos demanding Pfizer vaccine.
In his weekly public address, he explained that the demand for Pfizer vaccine does not meet the country’s supply.
“Mayroon tayong Pfizer, walang problema ‘yan, at maibigay natin sa mga tao, walang problema,” he said.
“But ‘yong mga tao na would like to demand Pfizer at walang iba, ay hindi pupuwede ‘yan kasi hindi naman talaga lahat dumating sa atin puro Pfizer…It could have been another story kung ang Pfizer exclusive sa atin dumadating. Ang Pfizer ho ay one of the brand vaccines [na] dumadating sa atin.”
The President asserted that all vaccines are effective. He also called for equality in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine jabs.
“When you begin to be selective, the others will also begin to be agitated about the potency na pareho naman sana sa iba. They will also demand Pfizer. How about the other Filipinos from the Visayas to Mindanao? Eh hindi natin mabigyan. Hindi pwede ‘yang ganoon. There must be equality in everything,” he said.
He reiterated that it’s better if the vaccines are unannounced because “the best [vaccine] is really the one that’s available for you.”
The Chief Executive then reminded the public not to be “choosy” about vaccines due to the emerging COVID-19 variants.
“There are so many variants now and it’s better to have the vaccine right away without being choosy,” he said. -jlo
