THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, launched its official vaccination program against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) with the inoculation of over 100 personnel.
The military received 100,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine donated by China, about two months after officials admitted that Presidential Security Group (PSG) personnel illegally received Sinopharm vaccines that were smuggled into the country.
Both the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines are from China. The Sinovac vaccine was developed by Sinovac Life Sciences Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of the Nasdaq-listed Sinovac Biotech Ltd., while the Sinopharm vaccine was developed by a subsidiary of state-owned China National Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd.
Ceremonial vaccination activities using the Sinovac vaccine were held at the Camp Aguinaldo General Hospital, Manila Naval Hospital, Army General Hospital and Philippine Air Force General Hospital.
AFP spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo said at least 30 medical health workers in each hospital were vaccinated.
At Camp Aguinaldo, among the first vaccinees were Office of the Chief Nurse chief administrative officer Lieutenant Colonel Jacquelyn Cloma, operations officer Major Francis Jan Andrade and assistant chief nurse Major Dennis Delgado.
At the Manila Naval Hospital, hospital commanding officer Colonel Puralyn Epres led Philippine Navy and Philippine Marines personnel.
Lieutenant Colonel Teresita Merioles was the first to be inoculated at the Army hospital.
In his speech, AFP Chief of Staff Cirilito Sobejana urged members of the military to show strong resolve of support and trust to the government’s vaccination program.
“As the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and in full confidence of our government’s pursuit of promoting the interests for our people, I urge our troops to wholeheartedly support our government’s vaccination program. Let us collectively show our strong resolve of support and trust to this very decisive initiative,” he said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), on the other hand, began vaccination of its personnel on Monday, March 1.
Some 800 PNP healthcare frontliners were among the first PNP personnel to be inoculated with the Sinovac vaccine provided by the government.
Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, PNP deputy director for administration, said two personnel experienced minor adverse effects after getting inoculated on Monday.
A 29-year-old civilian employee experienced skin rashes while a 42-year-old policeman complained of dizziness.
He said the patients were managed properly and later sent home.
The Food and Drug Administration granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Sinovac vaccine on February 22, making Sinovac the third vaccine maker to get an EUA in the Philippines after Pfizer and AstraZeneca.
Sinopharm has yet to apply for an EUA in the Philippines. An EUA allows the use of a vaccine under development during a public health emergency. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)