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FDA probes reports on soldiers' vaccination; less than 1,000 new cases reported anew
FDA probes reports on soldiers' vaccination; less than 1,000 new cases reported anew
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that it is now investigating reports that some soldiers already received vaccines against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
"So far, wala pa po kaming details kung saan nanggaling at kung paano natanggap yung mga bakunang iyon… . I want to see the details. I do not have any idea how it happened. What was the process, how they were selected, what vaccine was use?," said FDA Director-General Rolando Enrique Domingo in a press briefing.
Domingo reiterated that there is still no approved COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines.
"Until I get more data or more facts I cannot speculate on any liability on (the part of) anybody. But we do note the fact (that) is there is no registered COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines at this time," he said.
The Department of Health (DOH), meanwhile, assured that the priority list of those who will be vaccinated against the viral disease will be followed.
“The public do(es) not have to worry. The prioritization will not be changed or revised. We will push through with that and that would be part of what we will be implementing,” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
Previously, the DOH said that among those prioritized to be vaccinated are healthcare workers, the poor sector, and the uniformed personnel.
Vergeire also urged the public not to take COVID-19 vaccines that are still unregistered in the Philippines.
“Hintayin po natin yung magdadaan sa regulatory approval or process ng Department of Health and FDA para po tayo ay makasigurado na ligtas po yung makukuha nyo at ito ay magkakaroon kayo ng proteksyon ,” she said.
Case update
The Philippines has recorded below 1,000 new COVID-19 cases for the third straight day already.
The DOH said that 886 new infections were logged nationwide. This brought the cumulative tally to 471,526, of which, 23,348 are active cases or those who are still ill.
Davao City recorded the highest number of new cases with 61, followed by Pampanga with 58, Bulacan with 45, Quezon City 45, and Cavite 37.
There were also 253 new survivors, raising the total of recoveries to 439,016. The death toll, meanwhile, went up to 9,162 with 38 more fatalities.
“Ten duplicates were removed from the total case count. Of these, nine recovered cases have been removed. Moreover, eight cases previously tagged as recovered were reclassified as deaths,” it added.