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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte's disclosure that soldiers, gov't officials got COVID-19 vaccine not helpful to future immunization campaign -- Drilon

Duterte's disclosure that soldiers, gov't officials got COVID-19 vaccine not helpful to future immunization campaign -- Drilon

Published Dec 28, 2020 05:09 pm

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon thinks that President Duterte's admission that soldiers and several other public officials were immunized against COVID-19 using unauthorized vaccines may not help the government's upcoming vaccination program.

Senator Franklin Drilon
(Senate of the Philippines / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

Drilon said Monday that this could particularly affect the confidence of people, which he said is important for the success of the government's COVID-19 inoculation plan.

"Public confidence is critical to the successful inoculation of our people. Confidence is developed by adhering to a science-based process and the opinion of our vaccine expert panel," he said in a brief statement sent to reporters.

"The inoculation using vaccines not approved by our FDA will not contribute to need to develop public confidence that the government program will succeed," he added.

Duterte earlier confessed that several people in government, including members of the Philippine military, have already received vaccines from Chinese drugmaker Sinopharm before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could approve its use.

The President wanted the military and police to be vaccinated against COVID-19 first.

For Senate President Vicente Sotto III, no laws have been violated when the unapproved vaccines were given to the state workers, even for those who administered it. 

"You will have to prosecute all those who administer herbal meds and other types of meds not FDA approved. But then again, what law did they violate? I cannot think of one," Sotto said.

He opined that FDA's approval is needed only if the government will be the one procuring and administering the vaccines. He was confident that government funds were not used in the premature inoculation of the soldiers, saying the vaccines could be donated.

Health officials have repeatedly warned the public against the use of unregistered and unapproved vaccines. Selling of unregistered vaccines is prohibited, the FDA said earlier in one of its advisories.

The FDA said that as of Monday, it has yet to issue any Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for any vaccine against COVID-19.

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