Duterte to FDA: Why are Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines not for health workers?

President Rodrigo Duterte has summoned Food and Drug Administration Director General Eric Domingo to explain why the FDA discouraged the use by health care workers of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Chinese firm Sinovac.

The FDA decision has issued an emergency use authorization to Sinovac but recommended that its vaccines be given only to clinically healthy individuals aged 18 to 59 years.

The Sinovac vaccine’s efficacy rate among health workers is 50.4% compared to 63% to 91% among those in the age group.

“Ipinatawag po si Undersecretary Domingo, at naiparating ni Presidente iyong kaniyang pagtataka kung bakit may ganitong colatilla ‘no. Nirerespeto po ng Presidente ang opinyon ng mga experts kaya  let the colatilla remain,” Roque said.

“Pero ang mga tanong nga lang po, eh kung ang [World Health Organization] mismo nagsabi 50% is the threshold, ang tanong niya, eh bakit kinakailangan mag-colatilla kung ang WHO mismo nagsabi, 50% efficacy is acceptable,” he added. -NB, GMA News