Health officials and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said they would investigate President Rodrigo Duterte’s claim that many people, including soldiers, have been inoculated with unauthorized vaccines from China.
On Saturday, Duterte said many Filipinos, including some from the military, have already received a COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese manufacturer Sinopharm, which has no approval yet from the FDA.
"I tell you, many people have already been inoculated with Sinopharm… Almost all soldiers have been injected," Duterte told FDA Director-General Eric Domingo during a meeting with Cabinet officials.
“I have to be frank and I have to tell the truth. I will not foist a lie. Many people have already been injected,” he said in Filipino.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday confirmed that members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) were the ones who were given the COVID-19 vaccine.
"Per our inquiry, members of the PSG were the first ones from the AFP who were vaccinated owing to the nature of their mission and function," AFP spokesman Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in a statement forwarded to reporters.
"As the unit primarily tasked to protect and secure the highest official of the land, the PSG will have to ensure that the President is safe from all threats — including COVID-19," Arevalo said.
Arevalo said the AFP was not privy to the arrangements as to how the vaccines were obtained for the PSG.
"But we have taken cognizance of the fact that the members of the PSG under Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante have taken a bold step to try the vaccine to protect the President."
The Filipino Nurses United (FNU) on Monday expressed disappointment over the reports.
"It’s like they’re maltreating health workers. They showed that we are not a priority. Aside from that, we haven't received some benefits yet,” FNU Treasurer Jaymmee de Guzman told ABS-CBN News during a video call.
De Guzman said while she does not know what the reason was behind the PSG’s prioritization, she said the government should remember that “we are still under attack and those facing the enemy are health workers."
"I hope they prioritize health workers. It is disappointing and enraging," she said.
In a Laging Handa briefing on Monday, Arevalo said there is no AFP-sanctioned inoculation or vaccination for military personnel.
He added that they are still validating this report which claims that COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Sinopharm were used to vaccinate some members of the military.
The Palace also confirmed that many military men and government officials received COVID-19 vaccine shots, but said these were on a voluntary basis as the unregistered vaccine has yet to be approved by the FDA.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque issued the statement after President Duterte claimed that many Filipinos, including some from the military, have already received a COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm.
“This must have been made by the soldiers and probably by the commanders because it would not reach the soldiers if there is no go-signal from its commanders and I understand this is voluntary,” Roque said.
Sinopharm’s vaccine has yet to receive emergency use authorizationfrom the Philippines’ FDA but Roque said the law does not prohibit vaccinations using an unregistered product.
“Don't deprive our soldiers of protection from the disease. Let us just accept that it is important that our soldiers, those who are guarding our security are safe from COVID so they can do their jobs,” Roque added.
“It is not illegal for soldiers to receive the unregistered vaccines against COVID-19. What is banned is its distribution and sale,” the Palace spokesman said.
Roque said the public should not worry because if the country fails to secure COVID-19 vaccines from Western countries because China is offering its own vaccines, which have been given to over 1 million of its own people since July.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año also confirmed that some soldiers, including members of the Presidential Security Group, had been vaccinated.
DOH Undersecretary and spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said at a press briefing Monday that the FDA has not authorized any COVID-19 vaccine yet.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas said no police officer has been inoculated with any COVID-19 vaccine yet.
He said the PNP was coordinating with the FDA and the DOH to go after fake COVID-19 vaccines.
“I already talked with the new FDA director general …because we are worried that there might be fake vaccines,” he said.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he saw nothing wrong if some soldiers got vaccinated against COVID-19 using an unauthorized vaccine.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong about that,” Sotto said.
He noted there is no law that says you cannot take any medicine or vaccine that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved.
“Last I recall, there is even no law versus suicide. So what’s the fuss?” he said.
“I don’t think the government paid for those vaccines they used. I’m sure they were given and administered for free,” he added.
He also said those against the vaccination can raise a howl if the government paid for the vaccines.
But Senator Imee Marcos decried the priorities that the vaccinations implied.
The principle should be highest risk first, she said, not the best-connected first. In an official statement, the DOH said the use of unregistered products could harm a person’s health and safety.