COVID-19 national policy chief implementer and vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. said China approved Sinopharm as a vaccine against COVID-19 so it can be used.
It will be recalled that this is what President Rodrigo Duterte mentioned in his previous public address that was allegedly used as a vaccine for members of the Presidential Security Group.
Many reacted when the President said this even though no COVID-19 vaccine was not yet authorized by the Food and Drug Administration.
“Para mawala ang ating misconception sa mga Chinese vaccine, noong last January po, ang China po ay nag-approve ng EUA of Sinopharm for general use. Dalawa po kasi ang ginagawa po ng China, ‘yung tinatawag nating emergency authorization for limited use at saka po mayroon tayong emergency utilization for general use,” said Galvez.
In his update on the President, Galvez also said that the government is looking at 100 vaccines, some of which are close to phase 3 trials including Sinovac, Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer.
He also said that some vaccines from China were approved and can be used in various ways.
China-approved Sinopharm can be used – Galvez
“Ang Sinovac at saka ‘yung Sinopharm ay nabigyan po sila ng EUA or ‘yung emergency use for limited use, katulad po ng Sinovac, limited use for tinatawag nating elderly at saka tinatawag nating ‘yung vulnerable sector,” said Galvez.
He added that the Pfizer vaccine had “stringent authority” in the US and UK, followed by Moderna and Astrazeneca.
Yesterday, Ayala Corp. said it ordered 450,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine worth P120 million, half of which would be donated to the government.
Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Corp. chief operating officer said the private sector would assist the government in the vaccines’ procurement and distribution nationwide.
“In the private sector, we’ve decided to order 450,000 vaccines of AstraZeneca so the total donation that we will be giving to government will be about 120 million pesos. Government, in turn, as you know Sec. Harry, has requested that 50% be given for individuals that the government selects, and 50% will be given back to the private sector so that we can also provide the vaccine for the people who need it,” said Zobel.
According to Zobel, each vaccine costs $5.50, with $0.50 allocated for the logistics.