Duterte already fully vaccinated vs. COVID-19, says PSG chief

President Rodrigo Duterte is already fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with doses of Sinopharm vaccine, Presidential Security Group (PSG) chief Jesus Durante III said Friday.

"Si Pangulo po ay vaccinated na po siya, at napakahalaga po nito, para lalo namin siyang maingatan, lalo na magagawa niya nang maayos at tuloy-tuloy ang kaniyang tungkulin, upang makapaglingkod sa ating mga kababayan," Durante said in an interview on state-run PTV Network.

(The President is already vaccinated against COVID-19, and this is very important because now he can continue performing his tasks in serving the public.)

Durante said Duterte received his second dose 14 days after he received his first dose, which was on May 3.

"Fourteen days after 'yung activity, nagkaroon po siya ng second dose [Fourteen days after the first one, he received his second dose]," he said

Sinopharm has been issued emergency use authorization (EUA) by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration on June 7, or weeks after Duterte received the first dose.

Sinopharm, however, was given compassionate use permit in February. A compassionate use permit allows legal administration but the EUA guarantees safety and efficacy.

However, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Duterte received his second dose of Sinopharm after the issuance of EUA, which means after June 7.

“General Durante has personal knowledge of second shot. It was given after the EUA was granted to Sinopharm,” he said in a message to reporters inquiring about Duterte's second shot.  —KBK, GMA News