FDA faces ‘blank wall’ on probe of PSG’s use of smuggled vaccines 

Health Usec. Eric Domingo. INQUIRER.net file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is facing a “blank wall” in its investigation into the alleged self-inoculation of some members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) using smuggled Covid-19 vaccines, FDA director-general Eric Domingo admitted on Tuesday.

“If I tell you frankly, it’s a blank wall. We’re not getting information, the DOH [Department of Health] is not getting any information,” Domingo said in an interview over the ABS-CBN News Channel.

“People are still at it and I am not getting any info on that,” he added.

It was in December when PSG commander Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante III admitted that some members self-inoculated themselves with the Covid-19 vaccine as early as September, without seeking President Rodrigo Duterte’s permission.

Duterte later warned Congress against “tinkering” with the supposed self-vaccination of the PSG personnel. The chief executive also said that he was not aware of the vaccinations.

Asked what can the FDA do despite Duterte’s pronouncements, Domingo said: “Well, we just continue our investigation as it is and try to get more information from anywhere we can get.”

“What we are concentrating on in assuring that every legal vaccine goes through the proper documentation, the proper processing and we make sure that it is safe and effective vaccines,” the FDA director-general added.

JPV