The Presidential Security Group (PSG) Hospital will be held responsible if President Duterte experiences adverse effects from Sinopharm coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
The PSG Hospital was granted a compassionate special permit (CSP) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last February for the use of 10,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine.
The FDA had said that it cannot guarantee the safety and efficacy of the such vaccine brand since it has not been evaluated by the country’s health regulators. It has yet to secure an emergency use authorization (EUA) from the FDA.
“Kung pag-uusapan po ang liability... based from the compassionate special permit conditions, klaro naman po ito sa mga nag-apply nito, yun pong ospital o doktor na nag-apply nitong compassionate special permit is accountable (If we talk about liability ... based from the compassionate special permit conditions, it is clear that those who applied for it---the hospital or doctor who applied for this compassionate special permit is accountable),” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
Vergeire, meanwhile, said that the DOH will also monitor the health status of President Duterte.
“Of course, he is the President. So, we will monitor him everyday regarding these adverse events,” she said.
“Meron po tayong monitoring diyan (We have a monitoring for that). He has to be taken care of also by the Department of Health,’ she added.
Duterte received his first dose of Sinopharm vaccine last May 3, Monday, and it was administered by DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III. Meanwhile, Duterte requested the Chinese embassy to take back the donated Sinopharm vaccines after his inoculation drew criticisms.