Published December 16, 2020, 1:15 PM
The Philippine government’s choice for which coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine to buy should be based on science, not a political favor.
Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros issued this statement as experts raised questions on the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Chinese pharmaceutical Sinovac, which government entered a deal with recently for 25 million doses for roll-out in the first quarter of 2021.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros
(Senate of the Philippines / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Hontiveros said that the Sinovac vaccine has yet to undergo assessment by the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).