Manila –
President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte plans to return the Chinese-made Coronavirus vaccine Sinopharm. The plan came after the public strongly criticized Duterte for vaccinating using a vaccine Sinopharm although even though it has not received an emergency use permit by the Philippine regulator.
Duterte himself was injected on Monday (3/5) local time. It was the Philippine Health Minister, Francisco Duque who injected the Sinopharm vaccine into Duterte.
In addition to Duterte, presidential bodyguards were also vaccinated Sinopharm. The injection was carried out in secret.
Critics accuse Duterte has insulted vaccination rules as the Philippine public struggled with a series of coronavirus restrictions.
In a speech on Wednesday (5/5) evening local time, Duterte responded to the criticism by apologizing. He emphasized that the use of the Sinopharm vaccine was recommended by his doctor.
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The moment when Duterte was injected with the Sinopharm vaccine (Screenshot from Sen. Bong Go’s Facebook livestream) Photo: Screenshot from Sen. Bong Go’s Facebook livestream– |
Duterte also stressed that the use of the Sinopharm vaccine by himself and his bodyguards did not violate any rules because the vaccine had obtained ‘sympathetic use’ permission from regulators.
A local media report, the Manila Bulletin, confirmed that although the Sinopharm vaccine has not yet received emergency use from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency has released a sympathetic use permit in favor of the Presidential Security Group (PSG).
Watch the video ‘The moment President Duterte was injected with the Sinopharm vaccine’:
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