Sinovac or Sinopharm for Sotto; Recto opts for other brands

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said he would prefer to receive either of China’s Sinovac or Sinopharm vaccines as protection against the new coronavirus.

“I’m fine with that. I prefer Sinovac or Sinopharm,” Sotto said in a text message when sought for comment on Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) grant of emergency use authorization (EUA) to Sinovac.

“Those are the two vaccines with no human intervention or possible human error because it’s one vial one dose and syringe is attached. The others are 5 dose vials that have to be diluted and dispensed very carefully to avoid overdose or underdose. Then we have to buy syringes separately. I hope people realize that,” the Senate leader added.

Sotto had already said that he was willing to get inoculated in public to encourage other people to also  get vaccinated against  the virus.

Sinovac is the third company to secure an EUA from FDA, after Pfizer and AstraZeneca.

The FDA, meanwhile issued a compassionate use license for 10,000 doses of Sinopharm to be administered to the Presidential Security Group.

Unlike Sotto, however, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said he would not get himself  vaccinated with Sinovac.

“Based on my research, I would prefer other brands,” Recto said in another text message.

EDV