MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte’s vaccination with the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine of China’s Sinopharm is legal, according to the Malacañang on Tuesday.
“He didn’t violate any laws because it was administered by the Presidential Security Group (PSG) Hospital. It is covered by compassionate use granted by Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” said Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
Roque stressed that Duterte did not use a smuggled jab since it was donated by the Chinese government.
The President is also entitled to use Sinopharm’s vaccine granted to the PSG since he is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Duterte received the vaccine’s first dose on Monday which was administered by Health secretary Francisco Duque III. He did not experience any side effects after inoculation.
Meanwhile, FDA general director Eric Domingo said a study is yet to be conducted on Sinopharm’s vaccine but assured it is safe.
“‘Pag sinabing compassionate special permit, hindi po ‘yun authorization na binigay ng FDA. ‘Yun pong head ng PSG hospital siya ang naga-guarantee na inaral niya ang bakuna and they take full responsibility for it,” Domingo told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo./PN
