Navotas mayor gets Sinovac jab

MANILA, Philippines  —  Despite earlier reservations about the Chinese vaccine brand, Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco was inoculated with Sinovac yesterday.

Tiangco, who has asthma, was included in the priority list.

He was among the 260 people who received CoronaVac jabs.

Tiangco said he did not feel any adverse effect after receiving the vaccine.

In an interview on CNN Philippines on Jan. 22, the mayor said, “I’m sorry but I’m scared of Sinovac (vaccine).”

Tiangco yesterday said that his comment at the time was not because of “medical” concerns on the vaccine brand’s efficacy.

He said it stemmed from his patriotic sentiment following Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea.

“I just don’t know if it’s a right or wrong sense of patriotism. It was around the time Chinese ships in the West Philippine Sea increased,” Tiangco said.

He said his responsibility as mayor to inform his constituents about the efficacy of the vaccines regardless of brand remains paramount.

“I have a responsibility to my constituents, to show them that I believe that the vaccines are safe,” Tiangco said.

“I have no issue against Sinovac or any Chinese company for that matter. I have an issue with the Chinese government,” he added.

Tiangco said there is also no other vaccine brand available for people with comorbidities after the Department of Health suspended AstraZeneca jabs for those below 60 years old amid reports of blood clotting.