Palace welcomes WHO approval of Sinopharm vax for emergency use

MANILA – Malacañang on Monday welcomed reports that the World Health Organization (WHO) has given China’s Sinopharm vaccines emergency use authorization (EUA).

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque expressed hope that the WHO endorsement would help speed up Sinopharm’s application for EUA in the country.

The Department of Health (DOH) also announced that it will apply for an EUA of Sinopharm’s Covid-19 vaccine.

“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 the WHO issued an EUA over the weekend and the Department of Health chief has also announced that the DOH will apply for EUA of Sinopharm’s vaccine on the basis of the EUA issued by WHO),” he said in a press briefing from Davao City.

Following the approval of WHO, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III instructed the DOH to file an EUA application for the vaccine.

“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),” Roque said.

To date, the FDA has granted EUA to six Covid-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca, Bharat Biotech, Gamaleya Institute, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Sinovac Biotech.

Meanwhile, Roque admitted that the 1,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines donated by China to the Philippines have yet to be returned to the donor.

“Hindi pa po, sa aking pagkakaalam ‘no, kasi kakabigay lang naman ng order ng Presidente at kinakailangan ayusin ang logistics diyan (It has not been returned yet, as far as I know because the President just gave the order and we still need to arrange for logistics),” he said.

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte apologized for receiving his first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine and asked China to take back the 1,000 donated jabs.

Duterte’s vaccination earlier drew criticisms even if his jab was covered by the compassionate permit use given to the Presidential Security Group (PSG) hospital by the Food and Drug Administration.

Despite ordering the withdrawal of the Sinopharm vaccines, Duterte is expected to receive his second dose of Sinopharm 21 to 28 days after his first dose.