Duterte perplexed by FDA's caution on Sinovac vaccine

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte summoned FDA chief Eric Domingo to his Cabinet meeting after the agency granted emergency use authorization for Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine but cautioned against its use among health workers.

Duterte expressed perplexity over the FDA’s recommendation, questioning why it was not recommended for health workers despite a 50% efficacy rate being acceptable according to WHO guidelines.

Health Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. assured Filipinos that Sinovac is safe and effective, noting that world leaders such as Turkish President Erdogan have received the vaccine.

Top health experts urged Duterte to wait for the Health Technology Assessment Council's review before using donated Sinovac vaccines due to its lower efficacy rate of 50.4% among healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19.

The WHO stated it cannot comment on Sinovac’s efficacy yet as their evaluation is ongoing, while FDA approved Sinovac with an efficacy range from 65.3% to 91.2%, but not recommended for health workers due to lower efficacy.