FDA chief: Gov't looking to buy more Sinopharm vaccine doses

The Philippine government is mulling to  purchase more doses of China-made Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine to augment the nation's inoculation efforts, Food and Drug Administration  Director General Eric Domingo said Sunday.

In the meantime, FDA's Domingo said the government is awaiting donation of over 1 million doses from Sinopharm vaccine, which the Philippine government granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) in June.

"Ang pagkakaalam ko po may donasyon na 1 million na inaabangan. Pagkatapos na yun, mayroong ipro-procure pero siguro sa mga susunod na buwan pa iyon," said Domingo on Dobol B TV when asked about details on the procurement of Sinopharm.

(What I know is, there will be a donation of 1 million doses. After that, procurements will be done in following months.)

Earlier, Domingo said Sinovac -- also China-made -- is the most common vaccine used in the country, followed by AstraZeneca, and Pfizer. Sputnik V is still the lowest due to the limited supply, Domingo added.

Sinopharm was used for President Rodrigo Duterte's full vaccination. 

Much earlier, the vaccine became controversial after it was used for members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), prior to Philippine government's EUA grant.

On the other hand, data presented by the National Task Force Against COVID-19 indicate that the number of fully vaccinated population in the Philippines stood at 10.28 million on August 5. —LBG, GMA News