Filtered By: Topstories
News

Palace: Sinovac vaccine is safe, effective


Malacañang on Monday vouched for the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech, which is expected to supply the Philippines with 25 million doses this year.

Speaking at a news conference, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the results from late-stage clinical trials of the CoronaVac in Turkey showed it was 91.25% effective.

 

Sinovac Delivery Timeline (Malacanang Photo)
Sinovac Delivery Timeline (Malacanang Photo)

He added that neighboring countries such as Indonesia and Thailand have signed supply deals with Sinovac.

“There’s nothing spectacular about Sinovac other than it’s been proven safe and efficient,” Roque said.

“At maski kung tanungin ang mga eksperto, yung mga vaccinologist eh talagang inactivated po iyan ibig sabihin natural. Ito po ay pinahinang virus, which [are] the traditional vaccines that we have known for the past 300 years.”

Roque said he hopes that some of the vaccine doses will be donated by China considering the strong ties between the two countries.

Roque then lashed out at critics of CoronaVac following claims that it was not as effective as other vaccines.

“Kinakalat po ng ating mga kalaban na matakot dapat sa mga vaccine ng Tsino, na kinakailangan western brands lang. Kaya pinapakita po natin na ang Tsino po ay dumaan sa clinical trials sa iba’t ibang bansa at at least [91.25%] ang efficacy rate po ng Sinovac,” he said.

“Manahimik na kayo. Puputok na naman iyan sa mga mukha ninyo. ‘Pag nag-survey na naman, kulelat na naman kayo, bokya na naman kayo, failure na naman kayo.”

An initial 50,000 doses of CoronaVac will be shipped to the Philippines in February, according to Roque and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

The number will then substantially increase until the delivery of 25 million doses is completed by December. —LDF, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT