Duterte to get COVID-19 vaccine publicly

President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to publicly receive a COVID-19 vaccine to encourage Filipinos to get vaccinated.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stated that Duterte will announce the vaccination date, acknowledging that Filipinos are waiting for a signal to get vaccinated.

This decision reverses Duterte's earlier preference to be vaccinated privately, citing a desire for privacy.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III had previously attempted to persuade Duterte to take the shots publicly.

While Malacañang has not specified the vaccine brand, Duterte's decision aligns with his earlier preferences for Chinese or Russian vaccines.

Cabinet members and local government chiefs are also encouraged to get vaccinated in public to boost vaccination acceptance among Filipinos.

Other world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have also received their COVID-19 vaccines publicly.