Palace: Health workers, elderly won’t be the first to get COVID-19 vaccines in Philippines

Unlike the rest of the world, health workers in the Philippines and President Rodrigo Duterte will not be the first ones getting a COVID-19 vaccine because Sinovac’s COVID-19  vaccine—which is due to be  first COVID-19 vaccine brand to be delivered this week—is  not recommended for healthcare workers and the elderly, the Palace said Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the announcement after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued emergency use authorization (EUA) for Sinovac but did not recommend the same for health workers since it is only 50.4% effective among this group as compared to a 65.3% to 91% efficacy rate among healthy individuals aged 18 to 59 years old.

"I can confirm it looks like Sinovac will be the first vaccine we'll use in our vaccination program. Dahil sinabi po ng FDA sa approved na EUA [for Sinovac] na hindi muna gagamitin sa senior citizens, hindi po mapapasama ang Presidente sa mauuna," Roque said.

"Magpupulong po iyong tinatawag na NITAG ‘no – ang NITAG po iyong National Immunization Technical Advisory Group. Sila po iyong bumuo ng list of priorities at ang mangyayari po diyan eh siguro kinakailangan nilang baguhin muna iyong ating list of priorities para sa Sinovac.  Ang uunahin nila ay unang-una ‘no, mayroon kasing 100,000 na donated [na Sinovac] para sa militar ‘no so kinakailangan magamit talaga iyong 100,000 sa militar ‘no," Roque added.

Roque said that alongside the military, Sinovac can be next administered to economic frontliners, referring to the essential workers who had to physically report to work during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed from mid March to May 2020.

The ECQ protocol banned public transport and ordered industries shut except those considered essentials such as food and medicines.

"Hindi naman po natin pinili ito pero tingnan ninyo mayroon talagang Panginoon na [ang] nagsabi mauuna talaga ang mahihirap sa Pilipinas na magkaroon ng bakuna,” Roque said.

“Hindi na po maaantala iyan. Kung hindi maibibigay sa seniors at healthcare workers, napakadami naman pong mga critical economic frontliners na mabibigyan at siyempre kung maaprubahan na at magkaroon na ng supply agreement na initial one million ‘no...50,000 at 950,000...one million Sinovac eh pupuwede na nating ituloy-tuloy ang bakunahan; na iyong ating mga mahihirap na pinangako ni Presidente na sila po ang mauuna sa bakuna," Roque added.

There were two COVID-19 vaccine brands which secured EUA from the FDA before Sinovac: Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca.

Pfizer-BioNTech has been found to have an efficacy rate of 95% among its study population and 92% across all races. AstraZeneca, on the other hand, posted an efficacy rate of 70% after the first dose. The said rating increases after the second dose is administered four to 12 weeks after the first dose.

Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca and Sinovac are all administered in two doses.

China has donated 600,000 doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine to the Philippines, of which 100,000 doses are reserved for the military. — RSJ, GMA News