Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte got vaccinated against the coronavirus on Monday night, according to a senator who is his long-time friend.
The President, 76, got the shot made by China’s Sinopharm Group Co. Ltd., Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go said in a Facebook post.
The lawmaker, who was with Mr. Duterte, also posted a video showing Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III giving the shot.
The President got vaccinated not only to protect himself from the virus but also to encourage Filipinos to get vaccinated, Mr. Go said.
Mr. Duterte, a senior citizen, belongs to a priority group for the coronavirus vaccine.
Sinopharm had not received an emergency use authorization for its vaccine. The local Food and Drug Administration, however, has allowed the compassionate use of 10,000 doses of its vaccine for presidential guards. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza