Palace: Only Sinovac Shot Available Until June

Vaccines for COVID-19 would be available in the country next month – but only one of the two brands manufactured in China, as other brands like those produced in the United States and the United Kingdom would be ready only in July, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said yesterday.

- Alexis Romero And Christina Mendez

“From February to June, there is no other choice because only one vaccine will be available, the one that will come from China,” Roque said, referring to Sinovac.

“If you do not want Sinovac, well, you won’t be forced,” he added. “If you are among the priorities, if you are a health worker, a senior citizen and you don’t want that, you would lose your priority slot... You will have to fall in line with the rest of the Filipino population.”

Roque assured the public that vaccines that secure emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be safe and effective, regardless of the brand.

“If approved by FDA, they are safe and proven effective. So the brand is not important,” he added.

Also at Malacañang, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles stressed that persons who have the money to buy their preferred vaccine brand cannot do so for now as the vaccines won’t be available for commercial use this year.