Palace defends Duterte’s Sinopharm jab: ‘He did not violate any laws’

By Prince Golez

President Rodrigo Duterte’s choice of China’s Sinopharm vaccine was recommended by his doctors, his spokesman said Tuesday.

On Monday night, Duterte received his first dose of a Chinese-made Covid-19 vaccine. It was Health Secretary Francisco Duque III who administered the Sinopharm jab.

“I understand na ang choice ni President was guided also by his doctors and I can only surmise na it’s the platform na inactivated vaccine because this has been in use for the past 140 years at least,” Palace Spokesman Harry Roque said in a virtual presser.

Roque also clarified that Duterte “did not violate any laws” when he was inoculated with China’s Sinopharm vaccine since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the vaccine approval for compassionate use earlier this year.

Sinopharm has yet to apply for an emergency use authorization before the FDA.

“It’s covered by compassionate use. So, as far as the President is concerned, he did not violate any laws because, precisely, it was administered by the PSG Hospital although physically administered by the Health Secretary himself,” the Palace official explained.

“Covered po yan ng compassionate use permit so wala pong nalabag ang ating presidente at ‘yung supply naman eh nanggaling sa additional 1,000 donation ng Chinese government to the Philippine government,” he also said.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)