Duterte gets second vaccine dose versus COVID-19

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday received his second shot of China-made Sinopharm, his former aide Senator Bong Go said in a Facebook post.

Go in his post showed a photo of Duterte being injected with the vaccine. 

Duterte received his first dose on May 3 even as the vaccine's emergency use authorization was still pending with the Philippine Food and Drug Administration.

In a statement, Duterte's spokesman Harry Roque said he received his second shot of COVID-19 vaccine hours before the Talk to the People on Monday night.

"[Health Secretary Francisco] Duque administered the jab to the President," Roque said.

Duterte received his first Sinopharm dose on May 3 while the vaccine's emergency use authorization was still pending with the Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA only granted an EUA to Sinopharm on June 7.

Presidential Security Group chief Jesus Durante III in late June said Duterte already received his second jab of the Sinopharm vaccine.

Roque clarified that Duterte has yet to receive the second dose, adding that Durante was mistakenly informed by a medical staff.

According to World Health Organization's guidelines for Sinopharm, the interval between first and second dose should be three to four weeks.

"If administration of the second dose is delayed beyond 4 weeks, it should be given at the earliest possible opportunity. It is recommended that all vaccinated individuals receive two doses," read the guidelines. —NB, GMA News