Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo is willing to get vaccinated against the coronavirus in public to encourage Filipinos to be inoculated, her spokesman Barry Gutierrez said on Wednesday.

Gutierrez issued the statement in response to Sen. Christopher Lawrence Go’s challenge to Robredo to be among the first government officials to be vaccinated.

“As early as the first week of December, VP Leni already declared her willingness to receive the vaccine in public to encourage all Filipinos to get vaccinated,” he said in a statement.

Gutierrez added that the government must ensure that the vaccines procured are safe, effective, and affordable.

“In her view, government should have two priorities on this issue: ensuring the availability of a safe, effective, and affordable vaccine, and ensuring that as many Filipinos as possible receive it. She is more than ready to do her part in attaining these goals,” he said.