Health Secretary Francisco Duque said that he is up to the challenge by Senator Bong Go for him and Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez to take the first shots of the coronavirus vaccine here in the country.

“I’m challenging Secretary Galvez, once available na po ‘yung safe na vaccine, ipapakita niya, along with Secretary Duque, sila po ang unang magpapaturok ng vaccine to encourage naman po mga tao,” Go said during the Laging Handa online press briefing last weekend.

In a message to CNN Philippines, Duque said that he is ready to be vaccinated once a vaccine is approved here in the country.

“Sure i will have myself vaccinated once the Vaccine’s Expert Panel of the DOST and FDA’s regulatory and technical evaluation determine the safety, quality and effectiveness of the vaccines,” he said.

Duque also encourages other government officials to try the vaccine first to convince those who are still doubting the efficacy of the vaccine. (TDT)