Duterte receives 2nd dose of Sinopharm vaccine

President Rodrigo Duterte receives his second dose of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine administered by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. Courtesy Senator Bong Go.

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is now fully vaccinated after receiving his second dose of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, Malacañang said Monday.

“I confirm that PRRD had his second dose of Sinopharm tonight before his meeting with select members of the IATF,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a message to reporters.

Photos shared by Duterte’s former close aide Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on his Facebook page showed Health Secretary Francisco Duque III administering the second dose to the President in Malacañang.

Duterte received a second dose of Sinopharm vaccine 70 days after he was first given it on May 3.

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

When he received his first dose, the President then said it took his doctor a long time to assess before Sinopharm was chosen as his vaccine.

When the President was inoculated with the Sinopharm vaccine in May, the jab had yet to secure an emergency use authorization (EUA). However, a compassionate was given to the Presidential Security Group by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

It was only in June when the FDA approved Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use.

EDV