The Philippine government is still waiting for data to recommend the best booster shots for individuals who have received Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine as initial doses, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, acting presidential spokesperson, noted that there is no adequate information yet from the vaccine’s manufacturers as to what brands can be used as booster doses for those who got the Chinese-made vaccine as their primary dose series.

Even the Department of Health admitted that there is no data available elsewhere “abroad and in the country and even from Sinopharm” regarding this matter.

Despite this, discussions between the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) and manufacturers are ongoing, Nograles said.

“Tuloy-tuloy ang pakikipag-ugnayan at pakikipag-usap at paghingi natin ng additional data and information from the manufacturers ng Sinopharm para sa lalong madaling panahon ay makakapagbigay na ng abiso ang ating NVOC kung ano ung pinaka-mainam na booster shots para sa mga nakapag-kumpleto na ng two doses ng Sinopharm (Our discussion with the manufacturers are continuous so that we can provide recommendation as to the appropriate booster shots for those who got it as first two doses),” he said in a One Balita interview.

President Rodrigo Duterte had received Sinopharm as his booster dose, the same brand of vaccine he got for his primary series.

He did not experience any adverse effects but Nograles reiterated that the decision was made following the advice of Duterte’s physician.

“Wala naman pong masamang epektong naidulot sapagkat alam namin, again, itong mga bakuna ni Pangulong Duterte ay something between him and his personal physician (As far as we know no adverse effect has been reported, again, the vaccines of President Duterte are something that is between him and his personal physician),” he said. (PNA)