Rody Orders Return Of Donated Sinopharm

Days after getting his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese state-owned Sinopharm, President Duterte has ordered the brand pulled out, citing the lack of endorsement of its safety and efficacy from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

He relayed his order to National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. in a pre-recorded televised address on Wednesday night, May 5.

Duterte also defended his decision to take the vaccine, saying the FDA has allowed it for compassionate use.

“Maybe it’s not acceptable to them, but it’s legal actually. When the government allowed it to be used for compassionate use, that itself was an authority for people to be injected,” he said.

He has also advised China not to pursue its plan to donate thousands more doses of Sinopharm vaccine.

“Pero kung parang ganoon na maingay, i-withdraw na lang para maghintay na lang tayo ng Sinovac and others. Tutal 1,000 vaccines lang ’yan eh. It would not make a dent on supply (If there will be noise, then just withdraw it and wait for Sinovac and others. Anyway, it’s only 1,000 vaccines),” he stated.

Duterte took the Sinopharm jab last Monday, May 3, followed by chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo on Tuesday, May 4.

Following criticisms he received, Duterte apologized as he ordered the return of the vaccines to China.

“So we are sorry. You are right, we are wrong,” Duterte said, adding: “Ganito ho ‘yan (It’s like this), well, we are sorry that we committed the things that you are criticizing us for. We accept responsibility,” he added.

According to Duterte, at least 55 health experts reached out to him, saying that the Sinopharm vaccine is “deleterious or dangerous for use.”

He noted that Sinopharm was used by Chinese officials themselves as well as in Brazil and Indonesia.

 Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said they would get the required second dose despite Duterte’s pullout order.

Read more: Duterte Gets Sinopharm Jab

But FDA director general Eric Domingo said Duterte might be given a different brand for his second dose. At a briefing yesterday, he also reported that the Department of Health (DOH) is already drafting guidelines for mixing of vaccines.

Domingo said the DOH has long been discussing vaccine interchangeability.

Vaccine Expert Panel member Dr. Rontgene Solante said the President may use a different brand for his second dose. “If it can’t be Sinopharm, then an identical vaccine will do – Sinovac,” Solante said in a virtual briefing.

China has donated 1,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine in addition to about 10,000 intended for the President’s close-in security detail.

Duterte said he has talked with an ambassador, presumably Chinese Huang Xilian, about cancelling plans to bring in more Sinopharm vials into the country, citing warnings from Philippine experts against the use of such vaccine brand without FDA approval.

“Just before this meeting started I had a talk with the ambassador. I informed him about the concern of experts that this has not passed their examination. (Sinopharm) was given only compassionate use, which is really a legal excuse to have the compassionate use,” he said.

China, he said, should continue supplying the Philippines with Sinovac doses. “I said just give us Sinovac, which is now being used by everyone,” he said. Sinovac has emergency use authorization (EUA) from the FDA.

He said those who are worried that Sinopharm is “deleterious or dangerous for use” may just settle for Sinovac. He noted however that Sinopharm vaccine is widely used in Brazil and Indonesia.

“I said, it’s a decision of my doctor and all things said this is my life. You know, compassionate use so there was this legal point that made it possible for me to…,” Duterte said explaining his decision to get the Sinopharm jab.

He said doctors have reviewed Sinopharm’s efficacy based on reports abroad. He pointed out that even Chinese officials were given Sinopharm.

In October last year, members of the Presidential Security Group got Sinopharm jabs under mysterious circumstances as the vaccine brand was not allowed for emergency use.

The Chief Executive also asked Galvez to make sure that no vaccine brand would be favored over other brands.

Duterte also urged Filipinos to get themselves vaccinated immediately to avoid wastage and help the country achieve herd immunity.

Galvez said many healthcare workers would rather wait for vaccines coming from Western countries such as Pfizer or Moderna.

Duterte said allowing people to wait for their preferred vaccines might cause delay in their personal protection.