President Rodrigo Duterte has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the head of his security detail said Friday.
The 76-year-old leader received his second dose of Sinopharm vaccine 14 days after he was jabbed on May 3, PSG commander Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante III said.
“Vaccinated na po siya, at napakahalaga po nito, para lalo namin siyang maingatan," Durante told state-run PTV.
It was only this month that the local Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of Sinopharm for emergency use. At the time President Duterte received his first dose of the jab in May, the FDA had only granted it a "compassionate special permit."
Sinopharm is the first Chinese COVID-19 vaccine authorized by the World Health Organization for emergency use. The WHO had recommended that the two Sinopharm shots be taken three to four weeks apart.
The vaccine's efficacy for symptomatic and hospitalized cases of COVID-19 was estimated to be 79% when all age groups are combined, the WHO said.