To increase public confidence in China’s Sinovac vaccines against COVID-19, vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez that he is ready to be injected with this vaccine along with other local officials who are also willing.
He said he has high confidence in Sinovac because it is already used in other countries such as Turkey, which has already used 6.5 million doses on the population.
He said even the leaders of Hong Kong and Indonesia have been vaccinated with the Sinovac vaccine in public.
“Marami pong mayor katulad ni Yorme (Mayor Isko Moreno), at ako po, magvovolunteer po kami to have the building of confidence, talagang magpapabakuna po kami kasi ang safe natin, safe naman ang Sinovac dahil sa rollout sa Turkey at Indonesia ang priority po talaga ay health care workers, iyong aged 18-59,” Galvez said.
Health Sec. Francisco Duque added that those who received Sinovac would be 100 percent protected against serious effects of COVID-19.
“Pfizer, Moderna, Aztrazeneca and Sinovac based on their clinical trial data, 100 percent ang efficacy rate nila in preventing severe COVID infection. Eh iyon naman ang importante Mr. President, kasi iyong namamatay galing din iyon sa severe. If you are able to prevent severe infection, walang mamamatay. Sinovac belongs to that group, that provides 100 percent efficacy or effectiveness,” said Duque.
Galvez among first recipients of Sinovac vaccine
According to Galvez, representatives of the Chinese and Philippine governments have already met to finalize the process of China’s vaccine donation.
He said a military aircraft will be used to accommodate the 600,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines.
“Nag-usap po ang Chinese side at saka po ang Philippine side, iyong preparation po ng documentary requirements kasi po iyong tinatawag natin na export permit, iyong tinatawag natin na deed of acceptance, inaayos na po para iyong target date po natin maihabol po natin sa February iyong bakuna na pangako po natin na dadarating ihahabol po natin,” he said.
The Food and Drug Administration previously stated in the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) that it is not recommended to give Sinovac to senior citizens and health care workers and that it is more effective when used by healthy people aged 18 to 19.