Here’s a reaction from Senate President Sotto after President Duterte offered to give Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to senators.
Here’s a reaction from Senate President Vicente Sotto III after President Rodrigo Duterte offered to give Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to senators.
The said offer was mentioned following reports that several elderly people in Norway died after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
“Tell him ‘Thanks but, no thanks!’” Sotto on Tuesday told reporters in a message when asked to comment about President Duterte’s statements.
Sotto added that he wondered what gave the President the idea that the senators favored the Pfizer vaccine.
READ ALSO: Norway Raises Concern Over Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Jabs For The Elderly
In his speech on Monday, President Duterte scoffed at senators for being critical about his administration’s decision to choose COVID-19 vaccine from Sinovac, perceiving it as a preference for the COVID-19 vaccine jointly developed by Pfizer and BioNTech.
President Duterte cited reports on the deaths of nursing home patients in Norway after they’re vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, before saying: “Gusto ninyo? Mag-order kami para sa inyo. Iyon ang gusto ninyo paulit-ulit.”
It has not been proven yet if Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine caused the deaths of senior citizens in Norway.
READ ALSO | Galvez: PH To Be More Cautious In Choosing COVID-19 Vaccine For The Elderly
However, Sotto said that the information given to the President was “wrong” and denied that senators were specifically rooting for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in the country’s vaccination against COVID-19.
“We do not! We favor any vaccine CORRECTLY PRICED! Properly procured [and] distributed!” Sotto wrote on his Twitter account.
I wonder who gave PRRD the wrong info that senators favor Pfizer? We do not! We favor any vaccine CORRECTLY PRICED! Properly procured n distributed!
— Tito Sotto (@sotto_tito) January 19, 2021