Philippines' Duterte says he will 'waive' his chance to get COVID-19 vaccine

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he will "waive" his chance to get a COVID-19 vaccine, arguing elderly people like him should not be prioritised.

Just more than 1 million people in the Philippines have received their first shot since the beginning of March - a fraction of the number needed to reach herd immunity in the country of 110 million.

The slow rollout and limited supply have fuelled criticism of the government's handling of the pandemic as a record surge in infections threatens to overwhelm hospitals in the locked-down capital and surrounding provinces.

The vaccination campaign initially targeted healthcare workers and soldiers, but it has since widened to include the elderly and those with co-morbidities.

While many world leaders received their jab in public to encourage others to get inoculated, Duterte said he would forgo the opportunity.

READ: Philippines to ease some tough COVID-19 restrictions from Apr 12

"I will waive. Whoever wants to get my slot, I will give (it to them)," he said in a pre-recorded speech released on Monday (Apr 12).

"Let's prioritise those who, once they get a vaccine, there's a chance that he would live and live productively," said the 76-year-old, after a two-week absence from the public eye that fuelled speculation he had COVID-19.

"Most of the senior citizens are no longer that productive."

Vaccines have been a frequent topic in Duterte's often rambling speeches. His spokesman Harry Roque has previously walked back on his comments.

In the past, Duterte has suggested he would be willing to be inoculated in public - after saying he would get it in private.

In August, Duterte offered himself up as a guinea pig for the very first jab of the Russian-made vaccine after the Philippines emerged as a frontrunner for overseas clinical trials.

READ: Philippines suspends AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for under 60s

Roque said later Duterte would not receive the inoculation until regulators had guaranteed its safety.

Roque said on Tuesday he hoped the president would change his mind about not getting the vaccine.

"Supply is limited. Once supplies come in, maybe that's the time he will get vaccinated," Roque told reporters.

Vaccine hesitancy is a significant issue in the Philippines, with a recent survey showing about 60 per cent of people unwilling to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

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