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'Tira nang tira, wala namang alam,' Duterte spokesman says of Sinovac critics

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Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News 

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/01/15/20200730-iatf-swab-testing-grab-gc-7012.jpg"/><figcaption>Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque leads a press briefing on July 30, 2020. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — Critics of the COVID-19 vaccine from China&#x27;s Sinovac Biotech are ignorant, President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s spokesman said on Friday, as government drew criticism for supposed preference for the Chinese jabs while the country lagged behind its regional counterparts in launching a mass inoculation drive. </p><p>Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque was asked in a radio interview about the discount that China gave the Philippines for the vaccine, to which he replied, &quot;Iyong mga kritiko ng gobyerno talaga, tira ng tira wala namang mga alam.&quot; </p><p>(Government critics hurl tirades, yet they know nothing.)</p><p>&quot;In fact, sa anim o pito na bibilhin natin, nasa gitna po ang presyo ng Sinovac. Hindi po siya ang pinakamahal, mayroon pang 2 brand na mas mahal kaysa po sa Sinovac,&quot; he said. </p><p>(Out of 6 or 7 vaccine brands that we will get, Sinovac&#x27;s price is in the mid-range. It is not the most expensive, there 2 brands pricier than Sinovac.)</p><p>The Philippines has booked 25 million Sinovac jabs against COVID-19, with the first 50,000 doses set to arrive in the country next month, Roque earlier said. Administration officials have not revealed the actual price of the vaccine.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qsegQ3dYvsU?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>The government got the vaccine at a discount fit for China&#x27;s &quot;BFF&quot; or &quot;best friend forever,&quot; Roque said on Wednesday. </p><p>Senate finance committee chair Sen. Sonny Angara earlier said Sinovac&#x27;s vaccine cost around P3,600 per 2 jabs. He said the information came from the health department.</p><p>In comparison, Pfizer&#x27;s vaccine, now used in the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries, cost P2,379 for 2 doses; AstraZeneca&#x27;s at P610 for 2 doses; Moderna&#x27;s at a higher P3,904 to P4,504, also for 2 doses; while Gamaleya&#x27;s is at P1,220 for 2 doses.</p><p>At least one senator, Francis Pangilinan, earlier called on the government to cancel the purchase of the Sinovac vaccine, citing its price and reportedly lower efficacy rates than other brands. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/13/21/galvez-says-wait-for-local-experts-assessment-of-sinovac-covid-19-vaccine">Sinovac vaccine 50 pct effective? Wait for local experts&#x27; say: official</a></li></ul><p>President Rodrigo Duterte has defended his government&#x27;s decision to purchase Chinese-made coronavirus vaccines, saying they are as good as the shots developed by the Americans and the Europeans.</p><p>&quot;The Chinese are not lacking in brains,&quot; Duterte said in a late-night televised address on Wednesday. &quot;The Chinese are bright. They would not venture (into producing vaccines) if it is not safe, sure and secure.&quot;</p><p>Duterte, who has pursued warmer ties with Beijing, has said previously his preference was for his country to source its COVID-19 vaccines from either China or Russia.</p><p>Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez said the government has also firmed up supply deals with Novavax, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson &amp; Johnson, and Russia&#x27;s Gamaleya Institute for 137 million doses in total.</p><p>These are on top of 40 million doses the Philippines expects to receive through the World Health Organization&#x27;s COVAX facility in the first quarter, Galvez said. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/14/21/pfizer-gamaleya-covid-19-vaccines-may-arrive-in-ph-in-february-palace">Pfizer, Gamaleya COVID-19 vaccines may arrive in PH in February: Palace</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/15/21/philippines-to-get-bulk-of-astrazenecas-covid-19-jabs-in-2022">Philippines to get bulk of AstraZeneca&#x27;s COVID-19 jabs in 2022 </a></li></ul><div><strong>— With a report from Reuters </strong></div>

<p>Critics of the COVID-19 vaccine from China's Sinovac Biotech are ignorant, President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman said on Friday, as Philippines lagged behind its regional counterparts is launching a mass inoculation drive. </p>

Critics of the COVID-19 vaccine from China's Sinovac Biotech are ignorant, President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman said on Friday, as Philippines lagged behind its regional counterparts is launching a mass inoculation drive.

'Tira nang tira, wala namang alam,' Duterte spokesman says of Sinovac critics

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'Tira nang tira, wala namang alam,' Duterte spokesman says of Sinovac critics

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 15, 2021 04:22 PM PHT

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