MANILA – The Malacañang assured that the vaccines used against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country are safe and effective amid the “brand agnostic” policy.
According to its spokesperson, Harry Roque, there is no reason for choosing vaccine brands since all jabs administered in the country gained approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
“Huwag po tayong maging mapili sa bakuna dahil lahat approved COVID-19 vaccines underwent thorough studies. Lahat po ‘yan, ligtas at epektibo,” Roque said in a virtual presser on Thursday.
The spokesperson disclosed that it was President Rodrigo Duterte who mandated the Department of Health (DOH) to enforce the policy after people flocked on vaccination sites where Pfizer’s jab was used.
Part of the directive is for the local government units to not divulge the vaccine information before inoculation.
The recipients, however, will still be informed of what brands were administered to them.
Duterte also instructed to use Pfizer’s shot on indigent populations in line with the COVAX guidelines.
“Dagdag ni Presidente, ilagay ang Pfizer hindi sa mga mall kundi sa vaccination sites sa mga barangay kung saan mababa ang take up ng vaccines,” he added./PN
