By Jennylou Canon

PHOTO: PCOO

"Pero matatapos na po iyong kaniyang prayoridad. Kumbaga, back to the end of the line. That's only fair."

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque told this to seniors and persons with comorbidities who refuse to take available vaccines.

While they are given priority for the vaccination, Roque said the government will not force the elderly and those with health risks to be inoculated. 

Meanwhile, the spokesperson added the government understands the Filipinos' preference on US-made COVID-19 vaccines as he cited a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey's result.

The survey showed that 32% of the 1,200 respondents prefer Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, and 39% chose Sinovac Biotech's COVID-19 jab.

"Naiintindihan naman po natin ‘yan. Talaga namang sa ating kasaysayan, ang mga Pilipino ay mas humahanga sa mga [galing] stateside," Roque noted.

Despite the public's preference, Roque urged Filipinos to prioritize their health by getting vaccinated with a vaccine that is available.

"Bagama't mayroon tayong preference sa stateside, unahin na po muna natin ang ating mga buhay, ang buhay ng ating pamilya, ng ating komunidad," he said.

As of May 25, 4,495,375 doses have been administered in the country, of whom 3,466,314 of them have received their first dose and 1,029,061 have already got their second dose.


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