COVID vaccine supply is the problem, not gov’t’s pandemic response — Duterte
By Deighton Acuin
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said the problem of the Philippines amid the COVID-19 pandemic is the vaccine supply and not the government’s response, adding that other countries are experiencing the same.
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| PHOTO: PCOO |
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said the problem of the Philippines amid the COVID-19 pandemic is the vaccine supply and not the government’s response, adding that other countries are experiencing the same.
In his second public address this week, Duterte dismissed anew criticisms accusing the government of responding to the pandemic poorly.
"Itong ating problema sa Pilipinas, kulang ang bakuna... Ang problema natin ay bakuna, hindi that we are not doing anything or that we are not doing it properly. Nandiyan na nga, humabol tayo," he said.
"Who would ever think that there will be a pandemic? Sino ba mag-aakalang dadating 'yan sa mundo?”
"I'm not comparing, but America, Brazil, they are suffering the same problem... 'Yong ibang lugar nga nasa sahig na lang sila," he added.
In the same briefing, Duterte praised Filipinos for innovating medical facilities by setting up modular hospitals.
"Hindi nila alam kung gaano kahusay ang Pilipino to innovate," Duterte said.
As of Wednesday, May 5, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,073,555 COVID-19 cases, 993,042 recoveries, and 17,800 deaths.
In terms of vaccination, the DOH reported that 2,065,235 individuals have received their first vaccine dose and 320,586 were fully vaccinated against the disease.
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