Choice of Covid-19 vaccine? Bato says he prefers Sinopharm

Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. Screen grab/Senate PRIB file photo

MANILA, Philippines — If it were up to him, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Saturday that he wants to get a shot of China’s Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine among other brands.

“Kung tanungin ako ni [vaccine czar] Sec [Carlito] Galvez [Jr.] kung anong brand ang gusto ko, sabihin ko Sinopharm siguro ang gusto ko. Kasi nag-conduct akong sariling ressearch, lumabas na ito ang pinaka-safe na technology na ginagamit nila,” Dela Rosa, although he is not a medical professional, explained in a radio interview over DWIZ.

(If Secretary Galvez asks me which brand I would prefer, I think I want Sinopharm. Because I conducted my own research and it shows it has the safest technology.)

Dela Rosa also said he will get inoculated publicly if the vaccine is approved by the government.

“Yes, oo, and sigurado na galing kay Sec. Galvez na bakuna. Hindi iyong bakuna na patago tago,” he said, reacting to the recent reports of some government officials who are willing to be vaccinated in public.

(Yes and I hope the vaccine comes from Sec Galvez, not the illegal ones.)

Sinopharm, which has a 79 percent efficacy rate, has yet to apply for an emergency use authorization from the country’s Food and Drug Administration.

Sinopharm’s local distributor was also faced with allegations of smuggling the vaccine despite its still unapproved status in the country.

JPV