PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will waive his slot for a coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine as he is over 70 years old.
“Ako, magwi-waive ako (I will waive my slot).”
“Kung sino ‘yong may gusto sa slot ko, ibigay ko (Whoever wants it, I will give it to them),” Duterte said in his public address on Monday.
Malacañang disclosed that Duterte will have himself vaccinated in public with China’s Sinopharm vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), however, has yet to approve the vaccine’s use in the Philippines.
Duterte said those who can still live should be prioritized in the Covid-19 vaccination.
“Ang unahin natin ‘yong mabubuhay pa… ‘Yung medyo pagka nabigyan ng vaccine, there’s a chance that he would live and live productively (Let us prioritize those who can still live… The ones who have a chance to live productively).”
“Most of the senior citizens are no longer that productive,” he added.
The Chief Executive said he was ready to die if it’s time to go, adding that he has nothing to look forward to after the presidency.
“I am fatalistic actually. I have always been [saying] na kung panahon ko na either it’s Covid or a bala or whatever disgrasya (if it’s time, either it’s Covid or a bullet or accident).”
“After this, [I have] nothing to look forward to.”
“Maybe spend a little bit of time with the family, then time to go,” he said.
Senior citizens or those aged 60 years old and above are the next on the priority list for Covid-9 vaccination in the county.
The country began some two weeks ago the vaccination of elderly against Covid-19.
