February 22nd – Comprehensive Philippine Rappler News Network (Rappler) and Daily Enquirer reported that the Philippine presidential palace said on the 22nd that President Duterte was inclined to vaccinate the coronavirus vaccine produced by China National Pharmaceutical Group.
“He said his preference was the National Pharmaceutical Group,” Harry Rock, spokesman of the Philippine presidential palace, pointed out at a press conference on the 22nd.
Philippines media mentioned that Roque said earlier that Duterte preferred China’s coronavirus vaccine, but did not mention which one.
Duterte has not been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.
Earlier, he said he would be willing to vaccinate in public places to encourage Filipinos to vaccinated.
Duterte has expressed his preference for SinoVac vaccines on many occasions. In a September 2020 televised speech, he said that the Philippines would give priority to purchasing a coronavirus vaccine provided by China.
In his State of the Union address on July 27 of the same year, Duterte also said that he had requested China a few days ago to become one of the first countries to use China to develop a coronavirus vaccine.
