Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte wants to get coronavirus shots in buttocks, but critics cry foul

Name: Philippines’ Duterte tells children to stay home and watch TV as new coronavirus strain hits
Uploaded: 2021-01-27T22:02:55.000Z
Duration: 1 min 1 s
Description: Philippines’ Duterte tells children to stay home and watch TV as new coronavirus strain hits

Some say the president is using this as excuse to avoid revealing which vaccine he receives, amid questions over product from Chinese firm

His health secretary compares the decision to how the queen of England did not want to be inoculated in public

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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures during an armed forces change of command ceremony in Quezon City in April 2018. Photo: Reuters

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Published: 6:02am, 28 Jan 2021Updated: 6:02am, 28 Jan 2021

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte wants to get inoculated with the Covid-19 vaccine in his buttocks, making it impossible for the shot to be given in public, officials said on Wednesday.

“Let's respect that,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque said.

“His decision can be likened to the decision of the monarchy of England. The queen of England did not want to be vaccinated in full view of the public.”

“The important question is, will there be an effect if a person is vaccinated in the buttocks,” Duque added. “It's the same, there is no effect at all.”

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Philippines’ Duterte tells children to stay home and watch TV as new coronavirus strain hits

Critics have hit out at Duterte's preference to get the shots in his buttocks as an excuse not to show to the public what vaccine he will receive amid concerns over the safety of the shots being bought by the government.