The close-in security team of President Duterte should consider applying for a special permit on the use of coronavirus vaccines before local regulators, a Palace official said Tuesday.
(OPS / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, acquiring the permit from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would help facilitate the vaccination of the rest of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) members.
Dr. Rolando Enrique Domingo, FDA director general, earlier said the agency can issue compassionate permits for the use of COVID vaccines in the absence of an emergency use authorization (EUA). Such special permits can be issued to small groups such as the PSG, considering their mission to protect the President, according to Domingo.
"If I were to be asked for an opinion ng PSG, I would seriously advice PSG na sundin iyong sinabi ni Usec. Domingo, mag-apply ng special permit nang sa ganoon maturukan iyong lahat ng miyembro ng PSG (to follow what Undersecretary Domingo said, to apply for a special permit so all members of the PSG can be vaccinated)," Roque said during a televised press briefing.
During a meeting with top government officials in Davao City Monday night, the President asked Domingo if the FDA could issue emergency clearance for the use of COVID vaccines. He noted that only American drugmaker Pfizer has so far submitted its application for EUA of its vaccine in the country.
Domingo, who attended the meeting via video conference, informed the President about the issuance of compassionate special permit for certain unregistered drugs. The official said this was the "safe way" to facilitate the vaccination even without the EUA.
President Duterte has defended the PSG's use of unregistered coronavirus vaccines, saying it was a matter of self-preservation. He also prohibited the PSG from appearing in a Senate inquiry to avoid getting "brutalized" in the hearing.
Duterte has also denied he was trying to cover up the controversial vaccination of his security team. He claimed that he was unaware about the PSG vaccination, including the brand of the drugs administered to his security personnel.
PSG commander Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante III earlier confirmed that several PSG close-in security members received the COVID vaccines to advance their mission to protect the President. The President was supposedly only informed about the PSG vaccination afterwards.
The PSG vaccination drew criticisms from many groups who inquired about the source of the alleged smuggled vaccines.