Opinion | China must explain its role in Philippines coronavirus vaccine scandal

President Rodrigo Duterte’s security detail received unapproved Chinese-made Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine doses in September last year

Manila is investigating, but Beijing must also clarify, which will help address concerns about its vaccines and commitment to a shared community of health

Reading Time:2 minutes

Chinese state-owned company Sinopharm’s Covid-19 vaccine was approved for general use last week – but was used in the Philippines as far back as September last year. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 8:00am, 8 Jan 2021Updated: 8:00am, 8 Jan 2021

The Philippines is currently embroiled in a vaccine scandal as it investigates the unauthorised use of a Chinese-made coronavirus vaccine last year.

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte’s security team admitted that several soldiers had injected themselves four months ago with a Chinese Covid-19 vaccine not yet approved by Philippine regulators.

Even though Duterte has pushed back against legislative attempts to probe the unauthorised use, the Senate is expected to proceed with an inquiry next week.

But the heat should not just be on those in the Philippines who allowed the vaccine developed by Chinese state-owned pharmaceutical company Sinopharm to be illegally imported and administered.

China also has a duty to explain how its vaccine found its way into the Southeast Asian country. Defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the shots were “smuggled” into the Philippines, while the president’s office said they were offered as a “gift”.

In September, Sinopharm reportedly inoculated volunteers in China with its vaccine which was then a vaccine candidate, or a product still undergoing clinical trials to test its efficacy and safety.

The vaccine – which was only approved for general public use in China last week – should rightfully have been strictly monitored both in its production and distribution.

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