Malacañang said Thursday the expected arrival of 600,000 doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines could be delayed because the Chine firm has not obtained an emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).
“Kapag hindi po lumabas ang EUA, baka maantala din ang pagdating ng 600,000 ng Sinovac,” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque at a press briefing.
FDA issues an EUA for a vaccine to be legally administered in the Philippines.
“Nais rin muna nating makuha itong EUA para po kapag dumating [ang vaccine], magagamit agad,” Roque said.
Last week, Malacañang announced that over half a million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Sinovac would arrive in the Philippines on February 23.
According to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said 600,000 doses will arrive on the said date, including the 100,000 doses the Chinese government donated to the Department of National Defense.
Last month, General Manager Helen Yang said that the price of CoronaVac that would be sold in the Philippines is reasonable.
“Definitely we are not the highest expensive ones because the mission for Sinovac is to provide the vaccine at an affordable price,” Yang said in an interview on CNN- Philippines.
“For [the] Philippines, we do committed to providing a favorable price but unfortunately, I’m not in the position to discuss this confidential information at this moment. But I will be assuring you that this is a very good price that we provided to the Philippines,” she added.
Meanwhile, Roque, said that the 5.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca under the COVAX Facility could arrive within February.
Sinovac arrival could be delayed due to lack of EUA – Malacañang
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.
This is because it is necessary to train athletes who will bring honor to the country.