The Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will include presidential envoy to China Ramon "Mon'' Tulfo in the ongoing investigation on the unauthorized use of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines.

"Yung mga ganyan, lumalabas ibang tao umaamin na nabakunahan sila, ito ay makakasama sa imbestigasyon. All of these things, pag nakitang di ayon sa mga batas na meron tayo will be considered illegal (Those who are admitting that they got vaccinated will be included in the investigation. All of these things, if not according to our laws, will be considered illegal) ,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in a DOH briefing on Wednesday, Feb. 24.

“Kaya nga iniimbestigahan. Talagang hindi naman maganda na nalalaman natin itong mga nagpapabakuna na hindi dumadaan sa tamang proseso (That is why we have to investigate. It is not good to learn that there are those who got vaccinated without going through the proper process),” said FDA Director-General Rolando Enrique Domingo during the “Laging Handa” press briefing.

In a column last Feb. 20, Tulfo said that he got vaccinated against COVID-19 using the Sinopharm vaccine.

“I now confess to the public: I had myself vaccinated — along with some government officials whose names I won’t mention here — with the Sinopharm vaccine last October,” Tulfo wrote.

Vergeire said that all COVID-19 vaccines that will enter the Philippines should undergo the regulatory process.

“All suppliers and local distributors should apply for the necessary permits and licenses and emergency use authorization. Everything has to undergo a process of regulation,” she said.

Domingo said that Sinopharm is not yet submitting an application for an emergency use authorization in the Philippines.

PSG investigation

The two health officials also urged the Presidential Security Group to cooperate with the investigation on their use of unauthorized vaccines.

“Kailangan po talaga makipagcooperate sa atin especially mga nabakunahan para malaman natin sino nag supply at saan nakuha ang supply at anong mga ahensya ang dapat kausapin para mafinalize ang investigation (We really need them to cooperate with us, especially those who have been vaccinated, so that we will know who supplied and where the supply was obtained and what agencies should be consulted to finalize the investigation),” said Vergeire.

“Sa PSG, hanggang ngayon wala pa din kasagutan ang aming tanong. Pati DOH sumulat na,” Domingo said for his part (With regards to PSG, until now our questions have not been answered. The DOH already wrote to them),” said Domingo for his part.