President Duterte has been finally vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine.
President Duterte receives the coronavirus vaccine from Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on May 3, 2021 (Photo: Sen. Go/Facebook)
Duterte received his first shot of the coronavirus vaccine in Malacañang on Monday evening, May3. The vaccine was administered by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
The process was broadcast via Facebook Live by his long-time aide Senator Bong Go. The video lasted for 1 minute and 39 seconds. The video, however, was cut before the public could see the needle of the syringe actually go through the President's arm.
"I feel good," Duterte said before getting the jab.
"I've been expecting this shot, vaccination, a long time ago," he added.
According to Go, the President got clearance from his doctor to receive the Sinopharm vaccine.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the President's first dose was covered by the compassionate use permit issued to the Presidential Security Group (PSG) hospital by the Food and Drug Administration.
President Duterte has expressed his preference for the said vaccine brand.
The Sinopharm vaccine has yet to be issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
However, in February this year, the FDA issued a compassionate use license for 10,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines to be administered to the PSG, a month after FDA chief Eric Domingo said that the agency can issue a compassionate special permit to inoculate small groups of people involved in critical missions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The vaccination of the PSG was once the center of controversy after President Duterte revealed in December last year that some Filipino soldiers have been vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccines. The PSG admitted that some of its members already received the vaccine but Duterte ordered them to "shut up" on the vaccination.