BY ARGYLL GEDUCOS
Malacañang said that President Duterte did not back off from being the first person to receive Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V, saying he was just told that he can only receive a shot in May next year.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after it was disclosed that President Duterte will only be able to take the vaccine starting May 1, 2021 after it underwent another clinical trial in Manila.
In a presser on Saturday, Roque was asked if President Duterte was backing off from his claim and will only receive the vaccine after clinical trials have concluded.
“Hindi po siya nag-back out,” he said.
“Sinabi lang po ng DOST na ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na pupuwede siyang magpaturok ay May 1 pagkatapos po ng third phase ng clinical trial na gagawin po dito sa Maynila at sa Moscow,”” he added.
The target date of May 1 was determined by the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) and the Department of Health (DoH).
Roque, however, reiterated that the target date of May 1 for the President’s vaccination will only happen if the Presidential Security Group (PSG) gives Duterte the green light.
On Thursday, Roque said that an expert panel review from the Philippines will first have to review the results of the first and second phases of the clinical trials of the Russian vaccine in September.
The third phase of the clinical trials of Sputnik V by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology will be held simultaneously in the Philippines and Russia from October 2020 to March 2021.
According to Roque, Russia will fund the clinical trials in the Philippines.
The vaccine is expected to be registered with the local Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by April 2021.
Roque said President Duterte may only receive the vaccine after it is registered with the FDA. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)