Duterte receives Sinopharm COVID-19 booster

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has received a Sinopharm COVID-19 booster shot, Malacañang said yesterday.

“In his statement last night, it appears that the President received his booster shot and it was Sinopharm that was used,” Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said at a media briefing.

Unlike his previous COVID-19 vaccinations, the President had no photos or videos of the administration of his booster shot released to the public. No other details were provided by Nograles.

The 76-year-old Duterte received his first dose of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in May. He received the China-made vaccine when no emergency use authorization (EUA) was yet granted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Malacañang had said Sinopharm’s COVID-19 jab, which was also used on members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), was the one recommended by the President’s physician.

Former FDA director general Eric Domingo had said the Sinopharm shot administered on Duterte was covered by a compassionate use permit issued to the PSG in February last year.

Later, the FDA granted an EUA for donated doses of Sinopharm on June 7 and then again for another batch on Aug. 19.

Duterte received his second dose of Sinopharm vaccine in July last year.

It was not clear whether the booster shot the President got was part of the donation.