Vice President Robredo reacted to Roque’s claim that she opposed the use of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine.
Vice President Leni Robredo recently reacted to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s claim that she opposed the use of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine.
On Sunday, Robredo lashed at Roque for alleging that she’s resisting the use of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines.
Robredo said in her weekly radio program that she only called for a positive recommendation from the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) for Sinovac.
Earlier, Roque said that he’s lukewarm on the proposed Duterte-Robredo COVID-19 vaccine infomercial, citing Robredo’s “politics” regarding Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine.
According to Robredo, there’s disinformation going around that she’s against Sinovac. She also told Roque that she never said in her previous radio program that Sinovac wasn’t a good COVID-19 vaccine.
Robredo added that she was alarmed on the national government’s granting of emergency use authorization (EUA) to Sinovac because it had yet to secure approval from HTAC.
“Gusto ko iklaro may nagka-fake news, sinisiraan ko raw ang Sinovac dati. Kung naaalala yung discussion natin, hindi natin sinasabi na hindi siya [Sinovac] maganda. At that time, nagkaroon ng statement ang HPAAC (Health Professional Alliance Against COVID-19) na may EUA na ang Sinovac pero wala pang positive recommendation galing HTAC,” Robredo said.
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In addition, the Vice President raised the issue on conflicting statements by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) on the use of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine for health workers.
Earlier, the Food and Drug Administration didn’t recommend the use of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine for health workers because of its lower efficacy rate. But the NITAG – a group of experts from the Department of Health – said that it recommended the said vaccine for medical workers.
The Vice President pointed out that she sounded the alarm about the opposing statements of two agencies as there’s already low public trust on vaccines in the Philippines.
Nevertheless, Robredo said that she’s “open” to coordinate with the national government to create an infomercial that would increase vaccine confidence among Filipinos.
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