The government is not inclined to allow the use of coronavirus vaccine in the country if its "potential liabilities" outweigh the benefits, a Palace official said Monday.

According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, only vaccines that pass the safety and efficacy checks by drug regulators would be used in the government's free inoculations against the coronavirus.

"Hindi naman po iyan papayagang gamitin, hindi lang ng Pilipinas kung hindi ng iba’t ibang bansa sa mundo, if the benefits of the vaccine will not exceed its potential liabilities (It will not be allowed for use not only by the Philippines but other countries if the benefits of the vaccine will not exceed its potential liabilities)," Roque said during a televised press briefing. 

"So, mayroon po tayong cost benefit analysis that the benefits outweigh the cost (so there will be a cost benefit analysis that the benefits outweigh the cost)," he added.

Roque made the comment after citing the need to study whether the reported deaths of some elderly people in Norway were linked to the use of COVID vaccines developed by Pfizer. He said it was imperative to verify the reports before making any conclusion about the vaccine.

"Kinakailangang pag-aralan muna kung bakit nagkaroon ng ganiyang mga deaths ‘no, kung sigurado ba na dahil iyan sa Pfizer ‘no at huwag muna tayong magkaroon ng conclusion. (It must be studied why there were deaths, if it is certain these were caused by Pfizer (vaccines). Let's not yet make any conclusion)," he said. 

More than 20 people reportedly died in Norway after receiving their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine and endured side effects. Norwegian health officials have reportedly warned that vaccines may be risky for old and terminally ill.

In an interview over Unang Hirit Monday morning, Roque said he hopes the incident would not affect the emergency use approval given to Pfizer in the country.

"Well, sana hindi naman po, dahil importante po talaga, kahit anong proteksiyon at mabigyan ang ating taumbayan (Well I hope it won't because it is important to have protection that can be given to our people)," he said.

Roque said vaccines cannot claim to be "100 percent safe and 100 percent effective." The advantage of using the vaccines however outweighs the disadvantage to protect a person from an illness, he added.

"Wala pong 100 percent na sure. Pero ganoon pa man, sa lahat po ng bakuna na na-develop natin, mas mabuting gamitin dahil alam nating nakakasalba iyan ng buhay. (There is no 100 percent certain but in all the vaccines we developed, it is better to use them because we know they can save lives)," he said.