Duterte already fully vaccinated vs COVID-19, says PSG chief

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III administers Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine to President Rodrigo Duterte on May 3, 2021, in Malacañang. (Screenshot from Sen. Bong Go’s Facebook livestream)

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is already fully vaccinated against COVID-19 after receiving two doses of the Sinopharm vaccine, Presidential Security Group Commander Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante III said Friday.

“Si Pangulo po ay vaccinated na po siya, at napakahalaga po nito, para lalo namin siyang maingatan, lalo na magagawa niya nang maayos at tuloy-tuloy ang kaniyang tungkulin, upang makapaglingkod sa ating mga kababayan,” Durante said in an interview with state-run People’s Television Network.

(The President is already vaccinated and this is really important so we can protect him while he continuously does his job in serving the Filipino people.)

Pressed to confirm if Duterte already received his second dose of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, Durante answered in the affirmative.

“Yes, 14 days after yung activity, nagkaroon po siya ng second dose,” Durante went on.

(Yes, 14 days after the activity, he received this second dose.)

It was unclear why the President received his second dose 14 days after the first dose.

The World Health Organization recommends an interval of three to four weeks between the first and second dose of the Sinopharm COVID-19.

It was on May 3 when the President received the vaccine developed by China’s Sinopharm.

Duterte later said it took his doctor a long time to make the assessment before Sinopharm was chosen as his vaccine.

At the time Duterte received his first dose, Sinopharm did not have an emergency use authorization (EUA) although it was already granted a compassionate use for members of the PSG.

It was only in June when Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use.

/MUF