COVID-19 inoculation mandatory but soldiers can choose brand – AFP spox

MANILA, Philippines – The vaccination of military personnel against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will be mandatory although the soldiers can choose which brand to receive, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Thursday.
In a virtual press briefing, AFP Spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo said all soldiers will be obliged to get inoculated as ordered by AFP chief of staff Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana.
The directive came even as the military has yet to ascertain where its vaccine supply will be coming from, or if they are among those who will receive the first 600,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines donated by the Chinese government.
“Ang Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas po is not like any ordinary organizations. Tayo po ay nasa service-orientated organization. Tayo po ang inaasahan sa napakaraming mabibigat na tungkulin kagaya nga po ng pagharap sa pandemya as early as 2020. Kaya sinabi natin na hindi opsyon ang pag-ayaw. Subalit kinikilala natin yung kanilang kagustuhan ng brand na gusto nila” he said.
Military personnel who will be choosing other brands of the vaccine will need to pay for their own jabs, Arevalo said.
Those who refuse to get vaccinated will face sanctions under military rules, he added.
“We are an organization under military regulations. So, ang pagtupad sa mga regulasyon o sa mga tinatadhana ng existing legal orders buhat sa ating mga superiors just like this one from the AFP Chief of Staff, no less, will be dealt with disciplinary actions kung hindi nila susundin,” he said.
“But we are confident na hindi na tayo darating sa punto na iyon,” he added.
The AFP said all its employees and troops assigned in the medical and healthcare units will be the first to get inoculated against COVID-19.
The donated Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines from China are expected to arrive in the country this weekend. –RRD (with details from Correspondent Joan Nano)