Malacañang on Thursday announced that 600,000 doses of Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines from China would arrive on Feb. 26.
“Ang bakuna po na Sinovac na galing naman po sa China ay nakaukit na po sa bato ang pagdating – ito po ay a-bente tres ng Pebrero. 23 February darating po ang Sinovac, 600,000,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque told reporters.
Of the 600,000 doses, 100,000 would be for soldiers. Roque said.
“Ang 100,000 po ay donasyon ng Tsina para po sa kasundaluhan sa Department of National Defense.”
Sinovac vaccines have yet to be approved for emergency use in the country.
Should they not get authorization, Roque earlier said the Philippines would return the vaccines.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 10,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines a “compassionate use license” in the country.
Members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) have earlier received unregistered Sinopharm vaccines, saying it was a matter of national security to keep the virus from reaching the president.
Roque said the 10,000 doses could cover even families of PSG members.
Despite being granted compassionate use license by the FDA, Sinopharm still has yet to apply for emergency use of its vaccines in the Philippines. John Ezekiel J. Hirro