PH approves Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has approved for emergency use the COVID-19 vaccine developed by China state-owned Sinopharm, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Monday.

In a televised meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, FDA Director General Eric Domingo said they have already authorized the Department of Health (DOH) to accept Sinopharm COVID-19 shots.

“So ito po ay tinignan na rin ng ating mga experts at ang ating pong evaluation sa FDA, today, we already granted an emergency use authorization [EUA] to the DOH to accept the donations of Sinopharm,” Domingo said.

(The experts have already looked into it and upon our evaluation at the FDA, today, we already granted an emergency use authorization to the DOH to accept the donations of Sinopharm.)

It was the DOH that submitted the EUA application for Sinopharm.

Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine has also been granted an emergency use listing by the World Health Organization.

The said Chinese jab was the brand administered on the President.

JPV