Malacañang has changed its tune and said that they are now welcoming Vice President Leni Robredo to be vaccinated in public using the Chinese made Sinovac vaccines.
Roque said that he, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana were willing to take the Sinovac vaccine, 600,000 of which are expected to arrive this February or early March.
“Kung papayagan tayo ng national task force at Department of Health ay kasama tayo sa mauunang magpabakuna para magbigay kumpiyansa sa ating mga kababayan para mawala ang kanilang agam-agam,” Roque told reporters.
“Kung gusto po ni Vice President, she’s welcome to join also,” he added.
Roaue previously rejected the idea of Robredo joining the vaccination because she is not part of the priority groups when Malacañang was still expecting the Pfizer vaccines.
The shots from Pfizer did not arrive due to delays in documents and other requirements.
“Pasok na pasok naman po si VP Leni, hindi pa naman po siya senior,” he said.
The following priority groups have been approved by country’s Interim National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (INITAG):
A1: Frontline workers in health facilities both national and local, private and public, health professionals and non-professionals like students, nursing aides, janitors, barangay health workers, etc.
A2: Senior citizens aged 60 and above
A3: Persons with comorbidities not otherwise included in the preceding categories
A4: Frontline personnel in essential sectors including uniformed personnel and those in working sectors identified by the IATF as essential during ECQ
A5: Indigent population not otherwise included in the preceding categories
B1: Teachers, Social Workers
B2: Other Government Workers
B3: Other essential workers
B4: Socio-demographic groups at significantly higher risk other than senior citizens and indigenous people
B5: Overseas Filipino Workers
B6: Other Remaining Workforce
C: Rest of the Filipino population not otherwise included in the above groups
