By Deighton Acuin

PHOTO: Senator Bong Go

Malacañang said the vaccination of President Rodrigo Duterte with a coronavirus vaccine that has yet to receive an emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is not illegal and does not violate any laws.

“It’s covered by compassionate use so as far as the President is concerned, he did not violate any laws because precisely it was administered by Presidential Security Group (PSG) hospital although physically administrated by the Health Secretary himself,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Tuesday Palace briefing.

“So covered ‘yan ng compassionate use permit so walang nalabag ng ating Presidente at yung supply naman ay nanggaling sa additional 1,000 donation ng Chinese government to the Philippine government,” he added.


Furthermore, Roque said he did not observe any side effects following the vaccination of Duterte because the chief executive was able to attend a meeting and to address the nation. He added the second shot will be received by the President next month.

Moreover, he said Duterte’s inoculation of a still-unregistered vaccine will not affect the public vaccine confidence.

“Hindi illegal ang paggamit ng Presidente dahil may compassionate use na in-issue para sa PSG hospital at hindi smuggled ang ginamit ni Presidente dahil ito ay donated ng Chinese government,” the Palace official added.

Five vaccine brands have so far secured an emergency use before the FDA, namely AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sputnik V, Johnson & Johnson, and Covaxin.


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