Malacañang announced that healthcare workers will be the first one to receive the first batch of Sinovac vaccines which are expected to arrive in February.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the initial batch of 50,000 doses from China’s Sinovac will be allotted for medical frontliners based in Metro Manila, the epicenter of the pandemic in the country.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that healthcare workers will not have the option to choose on which vaccine will be given to them.

Roque said that those who will refuse to get the vaccine will lose their spot in the priority list.

“Sa Pebrero hanggang Hunyo, wala po talagang pagpipilian. Kaya nga po kung ayaw niyo ng Sinovac, well, hindi kayo pipilitin,” he said.

Roque drew criticisms for saying that Filipinos can’t be choosy in the kind of vaccine the government will give them.

Malacañang also said there is an “initial agreement” to complete the vaccination of all healthcare workers nationwide before vaccinating the next sector in the priority list. (TDT)