Philippine President Duterte receives China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine

MANILA - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte received his first dose of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine on Monday night, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

"His first dose was covered by the compassionate use permit issued to the Presidential Security Group (PSG) hospital by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (of the Philippines)," Roque said in a brief statement.

Duterte's longtime aide and senator Christopher Bong Go posted on social media a video showing Health Secretary Francisco Duque administering the vaccine in Duterte's left arm. In the video, Duterte, 76, said he was feeling good.

Duterte also said that he was vaccinated to protect his health from COVID-19 and he encouraged the Filipinos also to get vaccinated.

The FDA in February issued a compassionate use permit to the PSG that allows them to buy and use the Sinopharm vaccine.

The Philippines has reported a total of 1,062,225 COVID-19 cases as of Monday, including 17,525 deaths.