PSG responsible for return of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines –DOH

The return of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines donated by China is the Presidential Security Group’s (PSG) responsibility, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Saturday.

“‘Yung pagbabalik would be the responsibility of the PSG kasi sa kanila po yan dinonate. Sa order ng ating Presidente, ito ay dapat ibalik at dapat fina-facilitate ng PSG ang pagbabalik noon,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during Laging Handa briefing.

(The return of the vaccines would be the responsibility of the PSG because it was donated to them. The order of the President was to return it and that should be facilitated by the PSG.)

In his Wednesday night public address, President Rodrigo Duterte defended his inoculation with a shot of Chinese firm Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine but at the same time ordered the withdrawal from the Philippines of the China-made doses.

The President asked the Chinese ambassador Huang Xilian to cancel the shipping of over 1,000 of the China-made vaccines.

The Food and Drug Administration meanwhile said Duterte's vaccination last Monday night was covered by the compassionate special permit

About two to three companies have asked the FDA to grant an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Sinopharm vaccines.

But the companies have yet to submit the requirements needed for the FDA to grant an emergency authorization.

In December last year, Duterte revealed that members of the Presidential Security Group were inoculated with unregistered Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine doses.

PSG commander Brigadier General Jesus Durante III confirmed Duterte's disclosure, saying that security group members inoculated themselves with Sinopharm.

The FDA, which is investigating the PSG's procurement of the Sinopharm doses, has yet to receive any information from the unit, said FDA director-general Dr. Eric Domingo.

The FDA only issued a compassionate use authority for the Sinopharm vaccine in February. — DVM, GMA News