Lorenzana nixes vaccinating other soldiers vs COVID-19

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday thumbed down the idea of giving other soldiers anti-COVID shots following the vaccination of some members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) using unregistered vaccines.

Lorenzana said the rules of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must be strictly followed, especially that vaccines and food must be ensured to be safe for consumption before entering the country.

“Mga sundalo natin? ’Wag muna [magpa-vaccinate]. Kailangan sundin natin ‘yung procedure. Tinatag natin ‘yung FDA eh para mayroon tayong procedure diyan because vaccines, medicines, and food are very critical items na hindi lang basta basta papasok na hindi susubukan ng FDA na ito ay safe,” he said in an interview at the sidelines of Rizal Day celebrations in Manila.

(Our soldiers? No, not yet. We need to follow the procedures. We have established the FDA so there would be procedure because vaccines, medicines, and food are very critical items that should not just enter without the FDA testing them if they are safe.)

Lorenzana said the COVID-19 vaccines used on President Rodrigo Duterte’s close-in security detail were “smuggled” since the has not authorized its use.

The PSG must explain their use of unauthorized vaccines, saying that the inoculation of some PSG members “violated FDA rules,” even though it was “justified.”

“I-explain ng PSG bakit ginawa ‘yon. Justified naman, hindi fake, totoo naman, walang side effects. Tingin ko, okay effect to protect themselves so they won’t be infected and para ma-protektahan Presidente,” Lorenzana said.

(The PSG should explain why they have done that. It was justified, not fake, it’s real, no side effects. I think the effect is OK to protect themselves so they won’t be infected and also to protect the President.)

PSG commander Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante III said the vaccination of Duterte’s close-in security detail happened as early as September without the blessing of the President.

He also revealed that the inoculation of some PSG members was done among themselves, without the help of a medical professionals.

JPV