Sinovac vaccine only choice for Filipinos until June —Palace

Malacañang on Tuesday said the COVID-19 vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac will be the sole option for Filipinos until June at the earliest, since vaccines manufactured by Western countries will only be available in the second half of the year.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the disclosure as he insisted that Filipinos who will avail of the government’s free COVID-19 vaccinations cannot choose which vaccine will be used during the immunization campaign.

Roque’s statement on Monday drew flak from some lawmakers such as Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and Bayan Muna party-list Representative Ferdinand Gaite, who said the people have the right to be choosy if it is a matter of safety, effectiveness and public money.

“Pagdating po ng bakuna sa Pebrero hanggang Hunyo, wala talagang pilian iyan kasi iisa lang ang bakuna na magiging available, iyon nga pong galing sa Tsina,” Roque said at a news conference. “Kung ayaw n’yo ng Sinovac, well, hindi kayo pipilitin.”

“Kelan ka uli magkakaroon ng bakuna na sana yung gusto mong brand? Eh kapag tapos na po lahat ng may prayoridad, ibig sabihin, pipila kayo with the rest of the Filipino population,” he added.

Roque said vaccines developed by Western countries might only arrive in July.

However, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the vaccine manufactured by American firm Pfizer could be the first that will be used in the Philippines owing to the country’s participation in the World Health Organization-backed COVAX Facility.

An initial 50,000 doses of Sinovac’s CoronaVac will be shipped to the Philippines in February. The number will then substantially increase until the delivery of 25 million doses is completed by December.

“Lahat naman po kasi ng bakuna basta pumasa iyan sa FDA [Food and Drug Administration], lahat iyan proven safe and proven effective. Hindi na po importante kung ano yung brand,” Roque said.

The Palace has vouched for the safety and efficacy of CoronaVac despite criticisms that it was not as effective as other vaccines and more expensive. — BM, GMA News