MANILA – Malacañang said there was nothing wrong with the soldier’s inoculation of unregistered coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines as revealed by President Rodrigo Duterte recently.
According to Palace spokesperson Harry Roque, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) is only prohibiting the selling of unlicensed COVID-19 vaccines while it is not against the inoculation.
“Hindi pinagbabawal ng batas na magpaturok ng hindi rehistrado na bakuna para sa COVID-19,” Roque said in a virtual press conference from Baguio City on Monday afternoon.
“Ang bawal ay ang distribution at ang pagbebenta,” he added. “It is not a free-for-all in terms of securing COVID-19 vaccine doses since you cannot buy commercially without an FDA license.”
During his address to the public over the weekend, President Duterte said some soldiers were already vaccinated using Sinopharm, a COVID-19 vaccine developed from China.
Philippine Army chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana confirmed that some military men, including officials and non-commissioned officers, have been vaccinated against the deadly virus.
No COVID-19 vaccine has so far secured the approval of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration, making the reported use of the Sinopharm vaccine unauthorized.
Roque also stressed that the China-based vaccines are safe.
“It must have been a decision of the commanders and the soldiers. Ito ay tinurok sa mga sundalo na pumayag,” Roque said. “Importante na ang ating kasundaluhan ay ligtas na sa COVID-19.”
“Matagal na pong available ang Sinopharm vaccine sa China. Ligtas naman ito,” he added. “Dahil hindi ito binayaran ng gobyerno, it must have been donated. Hindi ko alam sino ang nag-donate.”/PN
