The Sinopharm vaccines donated by China to the Philippines have not yet been returned to the donor, a Palace official said Monday.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque explained the government must still arrange the logistics to transport back the vaccines to China.
President Duterte recently apologized for receiving an unregistered Sinopharm jab and asked China to take back the 1,000 donated jabs.
Duterte's vaccination earlier drew criticisms from some sectors even though his jab was covered by the compassionate permit use given to the Presidential Security Group (PSG) hospital by the Food and Drug Administration. Duterte however defended that his vaccination was legal and that it concerned "his life" anyway.
The Chinese state-owned Sinopharm has yet to secure an emergency use authorization (EUA) from drug regulators in the country. The vaccine reportedly has over 79 percent efficacy rate after two doses based on clinical studies.
"Hindi pa po, sa aking pagkakaalam kasi kakabigay lang naman ng order ng Presidente at kinakailangan ayusin ang logistics diyan (Not yet as far as I know because the President just issued the order and the logistics must still be arranged)," Roque said during a televised press briefing Monday, May 10, when asked if the vaccines have been returned to China.
Roque however welcomed reports that the World Health Organization (WHO) has granted emergency approval for the vaccine developed by Sinopharm. He expressed hope that such WHO endorsement would help accelerate the application for emergency use of the Chinese-made vaccines in the country.
The global health body has reportedly validated the safety, efficacy and quality of the Sinopharm vaccines, recognizing these jabs can help accelerate access to medication for countries.
"Pero alam naman po natin na over the weekend nag-issue po ng EUA ang WHO at nagsalita na rin po ang ating Kalihim ng Department of Health na ang DOH na mismo ang mag-a-apply ng EUA sa bisa nga po ng EUA na inisyu rin ng WHO (We know that WHO issued an EUA over the weekend and the Secretary of Department of Health has stated the DOH will apply for Sinopharm's EUA based on the EUA issued by WHO)," Roque said.
"So, sa tingin ko puwede naman pong mabilisan ang proseso. Dahil po sa WHO pronouncement on Sinopharm baka mapabilis rin po ang pag-issue ng EUA sa Sinopharm dito sa ating bayan (I think the process can be hastened. Because of the WHO pronouncement on Sinopharm, the issuance of the EUA of Sinopharm can be hastened in the country)," he said.
The Palace earlier voiced confidence that Sinopharm can secure EUA from the country's FDA.
Duterte, who received his first shot of the Sinopharm vaccine on May 3, explained that it was his doctor who recommended the Chinese-made jab. He previously expressed preference for the vaccines made by China.
The Palace said the President's second vaccine shot will still be the Sinopharm brand.