Push Admin

Duterte tells Filipinos: Rich or poor, you can't choose COVID-19 vaccine brand

Article (news)

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News 

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/05/18/20210517-duterte-enrile-ho-2.jpg"/><figcaption>President Rodrigo Duterte leads a meeting at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on May 17, 2021. Simeon Celi, Presidential Photo</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte said Filipinos cannot choose which COVID-19 vaccine brand they would get from government. Vaccines approved by the drug regulator &quot;are all potent, they are all effective,&quot; Duterte said in a taped speech that aired on Tuesday. &quot;There will be no discrimination at saka hindi kayo makapili kung ano ang bakuna. Pareho lahat &#x27;yan. &#x27;Di kayo makasabi [Astra]Zeneca sa akin, Moderna–no,&quot; said the President. (You will not get to choose which vaccine to use. Those are all the same. You cannot say mine is AstraZeneca or Moderna. No.)&quot;Kung ano ang nasa harap ninyo, ‘yon na. Do not ask for a special kind of–kasi bulto por bulto &#x27;yan ibigay... It leaves a bad taste in the mouth,&quot; he added. (What ever is in front of you, that&#x27;s it. Do not ask for a special kind of–because those are given in bulk.) Duterte said most well-off people wait for US-made vaccines, like those from Pfizer and Moderna. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/10/21/philippines-receives-193050-doses-of-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine">Philippines receives 193,050 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/17/21/enthusiastic-elderlies-troop-to-paraaque-mall-as-city-begins-pfizer-vaccination-official">&#x27;Enthusiastic&#x27; elderlies troop to Parañaque mall as city begins Pfizer vaccination: official</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/17/21/red-cross-says-not-selling-moderna-jabs-after-gordon-statement">Red Cross says not &#x27;selling&#x27; Moderna jabs after Gordon statement</a></li></ul>&quot;Sabi ko hindi mangyari &#x27;yan. You cannot have–kung anong nasa harap n’yo, que milyonaryo ka o ano, iyon na &#x27;yong iyo. Hindi ka mamili,&quot; he said. (I said that would not happen. You cannot have–whatever is in front of you, whether you&#x27;re a millionaire or whatever, that&#x27;s yours. You cannot choose.) He said vaccine &quot;czar&quot; Carlito Galvez Jr would distribute COVID-19 jabs &quot;with a blind eye sa (for) brand.&quot; &quot;There&#x27;s no reason for you, really, to be choosy about it,&quot; said the President.&quot;Ayaw kong magkaroon ng storya na may pinapapaboran kami na ito, ito. Wala. Maski saang subdivision ka na mayaman o anong lugar dito sa North Harbor, pareho kayo lahat. Hindi ako papayag na magpili-pili.&quot;(I do not want there to be a story that we favor this, that. Whatever subdivision you live in, wealthy or what&#x27;s that place here in Nort Harbor, you&#x27;re all the same. I will not allow picking.) Duterte last year said he preferred vaccines from China or Russia. Earlier this month, he took a vaccine jab from Chinese state firm Sinopharm. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/03/21/duterte-covid-vaccine">Duterte gets vaccinated against COVID-19</a></li></ul>&quot;Sa awa ng Diyos, okay naman,&quot; he said of his vaccine choice. (With God&#x27;s mercy, it is okay.)The Philippines has so far received 7.779 million COVID-19 shots, the bulk of which is from Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech. Authorities have administered at least 2,959,829 of these doses. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/multimedia/infographic/03/23/21/philippines-covid-19-vaccine-tracker">Philippines: COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1687204" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Video courtesy of PTV</div>

President Rodrigo Duterte said Filipinos could not get to choose which COVID-19 vaccine brand they would get from government.

President Rodrigo Duterte said Filipinos could not get to choose which COVID-19 vaccine brand they would get from government.

Duterte tells Filipinos: Rich or poor, you can't choose COVID-19 vaccine brand

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

Duterte tells Filipinos: Rich or poor, you can't choose COVID-19 vaccine brand

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 18, 2021 09:36 AM PHT

|

Updated May 18, 2021 10:59 AM PHT

Read More:

Duterte vaccine

COVID

coronavirus

COVID Philippines

COVID surge

COVID quarantine

COVID updates

COVID latest Philippines

rodrigo duterte

duterte

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.