A lawmaker admitted Monday that he was injected with 2 booster shots, a few months after completing 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by the Chinese manufacturer Sinopharm.
“Kung nagtataka kayo, bakit si Congressman Zamora ay hindi na nagma-mask, sasabihin ko sa inyo, I have been vaccinated twice, twice over – apat,” said San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora in a press conference.
According to the congressman, he was vaccinated with Sinopharm vaccines in December.
The Philippine Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to the Sinopharm vaccine only in June.
“Sino ang nakakuha ng Sinopharm sa Pilipinas? Isa doon si Presidente Duterte. Kung pareho ang pinagkunan namin, pareho kaming bootleg,” said Zamora.
‘Bootleg’ can mean unauthorized or illegal copying or making of something.
Zamora said he was only given the COVID-19 vaccine.
Five to 6 months after completing 2 doses of Sinopharm, Zamora was vaccinated with booster shots by Pfizer.
His son, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, insisted that the doctor ordered the basis for the father’s vaccination.
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“Iyong naging vaccination ni Congressman Ronnie Zamora ay upon doctor’s orders,” said Mayor Zamora.
But according to the Department of Health, there is not enough evidence to recommend giving a booster shot or a third dose of the vaccine.
It is even being considered in Thailand to give booster shots to those vaccinated by Sinovac because COVID-19 still hits the vaccinated.
“Mixing and matching booster doses ay hindi pa narerekomenda ngayon dahil hindi pa kompleto ang ating ebidensiya,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
“Sa mga physicians, sana sumunod tayo, mag-align tayo sa protocols ng gobyerno. Tandaan natin may EUA ito at kung mayroong violation sa ganito, maaring magkaroon ng sanctions,” she added.
Meanwhile, more than 70 percent of the total population of San Juan has been vaccinated with at least one dose of COVID-19.
San Juan is the first local government unit (LGU) to vaccinate at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose to 70 percent of the population.
But only over 34 percent have completed 2 doses in the city.
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