DOH OKs Sinovac vaccine for health workers

An inter-agency task force has approved the inoculation of Filipino health workers against the coronavirus using vaccines from Chinese drugmaker Sinovac Biotech Ltd.

This decision was made upon the recommendation of an advisory group from the Department of Health (DOH), supported by experts, and is welcomed by Malacañang.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque expressed confidence that many healthcare workers will get inoculated with CoronaVac to boost public confidence.

Sinovac's vaccine has shown 50.4% effectiveness in preventing mild symptoms and 100% effectiveness for patients with moderate to severe symptoms.

The local Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already approved Sinovac's vaccine for emergency use, making it the third vaccine to receive such approval in the Philippines.

The DOH Undersecretary emphasized that vaccination with the Sinovac drug is not mandatory, and healthcare workers will have the final decision on whether to accept it.

The arrival of 600,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccines is expected two days after this approval.

DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire clarified that the Sinovac vaccine is not devalued by offering it to other health workers, addressing claims of a double standard.

Vergeire reiterated the FDA's statement that the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine was not recommended for health care workers directly in contact with COVID-19 patients due to its 50.4% efficacy rate in preventing mild symptoms.