DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte said there is no need for the public to see her get vaccinated in order to convince them to get the Covid-19 vaccine.
"Dili na siguro ninyo kinahanglan na actual makita ninyo nga gibakunahan ko enough na siguro na madungog ninyo na gina-push nako or gina-advocate nako ang pagpabakuna nato against Covid-19 (I think it is no longer needed to see me getting vaccinated because my statements advocating the public to get the Covid-19 vaccine is already enough)," Duterte-Carpio said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio Monday, June 28.
This was the mayor's response to an online listener asking when she will have herself vaccinated in a bid to raise Dabawenyos’ confidence toward the vaccine.
Duterte-Carpio declined to comment on when she will have herself vaccinated.
The mayor reiterated that it is voluntary. She also urged the public to do their research based on scientific evidence and not on hearsays.
"Of course, it is voluntary, pero dapat siguro ang atong pag-decide kung magpabakuna ba ta o dili is base on science, dili base sa hunghong o base sa claims sa tao na walay basehan (but maybe our decision whether to get the vaccine or not must be based on science, not on word of mouth or baseless claims from other people)," she said.
The mayor, in a previous interview, said that she respects the decisions of the non-believers of vaccines. But she said it is wrong to force their belief on other people.
“You have your right sa imuhang beliefs, sa imuhang opinions, sa imohang pagtuo, sa imuhang pagsabot (when it comes to your beliefs, opinions, and understanding) with regards to vaccines,” Duterte-Carpio said.
“But you need to allow other people to research on, to read on and inform themselves kung unsa ni nga bakuna (on the vaccines), and to make them decide on their own kung magpabakuna ba sila or dili (whether they wanted to get vaccinated or not.) We respect kung unsa ang inyuhang pagtuo (your belief), pero it is wrong to impose them on other people. Let’s allow each individual to decide on their own," Duterte-Carpio added.
Duterte-Carpio's parents, President Rodrigo Duterte and Elizabeth Zimmerman, already got their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine. Duterte was vaccinated with Sinopharm, while Zimmerman was vaccinated with Sinovac.
Presidential Security Group chief Brigadier General Jess Durante retracted his statement that the President is already fully vaccinated on Friday, June 25, after he made the claim the day before. There is no word if Zimmerman already received her second dose.
There is also no report if Duterte-Carpio's siblings, Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte and First District Representative Paolo Duterte, have already been vaccinated.