FDA to seek more information from AFP on vaccination of soldiers

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will write to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to seek more information on the inoculation of some soldiers with China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine even without regulatory approval.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo’s “24 Oras” report on Monday, FDA chief Eric Domingo said he wants to know where the vaccines were sourced from and who administered the shots.

“We’ll have to write the Army and ask them for information kasi gusto rin naman nating malaman kung talagang alam nila kung sino ang nag-inject at kilala nila at alam nila kung saan ang pinanggalingan, then that information will be material to our investigation,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier claimed that several soldiers have already been vaccinated against COVID-19. 

The AFP later confirmed that members of the Presidential Security Group were the first to be inoculated “owing to the nature of their mission and function.”

The FDA said it has not granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to any COVID-19 vaccine yet. 

Only American drugmaker Pfizer has applied for an EUA in the Philippines so far. 

Domingo advised those who have been injected with an unauthorized COVID-19 vaccine to consult a doctor to ensure their safety.  — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News