Don’t demonize made-in-China COVID-19 vaccines, says Recto

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto appealed to the public on Thursday not to “demonize” a vaccine based on its country of origin.

“We should not demonize a vaccine because of its country of origin. Let science be the guide, not superstition,” Recto said in a statement.

The senator was reacting to Malacanang’s announcement that 600,000 doses of China-based Sinovac Biotech’s Covid-19 vaccine would arrive in the country on Feb. 23.

Malacanang earlier said that of the 600,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine, 100,000 doses were donated  by the Chinese government to the Department of National Defense.

The vaccine, however, has yet to secure an emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA has so far granted EUA to vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and British drugmaker AstraZeneca.

“If our scientists from UP (University of the Philippines) and the FDA will say after thorough evaluation that it is good, then who are we to doubt their findings? Science is the light that will lead us out of pandemic darkness,” the senator went on.

“Knee-jerk reaction against anything Made in China does not help in the fight against Covid-19. And any doubt on any vaccine in particular fuels vaccine hesitancy in general,”  he added.

Recto stressed though that the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China is another issue.

“We can contest one issue and cooperate on others. At kung bigay ang mga bakunang iyan (if these  vaccines are donated), we should say ‘Kung Hei Fat Choi and Maraming Salamat Po!” he said.