FDA okays compassionate use of Sinopharm for Duterte's PSG

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the compassionate use of Sinopharm, a COVID-19 vaccine from China, for President Rodrigo Duterte’s Presidential Security Group (PSG) members, Malacañang said Thursday.

According to, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the compassionate use will cover 10,000 doses.

A vaccine needs to apply and obtain an emergency use authorization from the FDA for it could be administered in the country. Sinopharm has yet to apply for a EUA.

However, FDA said it could allow the use of Sinopharm vaccines even without EUA if it approved for compassionate use.

In December 2020, AFP spokesman, Marine Major General Edgard Arevalo admitted that Duterte’s Presidential Security Group (PSG) were the first ones in the military to received COVID-19 vaccines, even if the regulators have not yet approved any vaccine for use in the Philippines at the time.

Meanwhile, Palace spokesperson Harry Roque urged the public to “just accept” that some members of the military were given COVID-19 vaccines already.

Roque confirmed that some soldiers received experimental COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese drug maker Sinopharm.

“Huwag ‘yo naman pong ipagkait sa ating mga sundalo kung nagkaroon sila ng proteksyon,” he said in a virtual press briefing.

FDA okays compassionate use of Sinopharm for Duterte’s PSG

“Tanggapin na lang po natin na importante na iyong ating kasundaluhan, iyong mga nagbabantay sa ating seguridad ay ligtas na sa COVID nang magampanan nila ang kanilang trabaho,” he added.

Meanwhile, President Duterte allegedly ordered that the soldiers and police be vaccinated first when China’s Sinovac vaccine donation arrives in the country.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said that President Duterte instructed him that once Sinovac arrives, soldiers and police should be the priority.

According to Go, this is what the President wants because the soldiers are also among the considered frontliners.

Apart from the soldiers and police, the senator also recommended to the President and Galvez to include in the priority to vaccinate athletes who will compete in the summer olympics in Japan and SEA games in Vietnam.

Malacañang announced on Thursday that over half a million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Sinovac would arrive in the Philippines on February 23.