Some Philippine ministers and soldiers appear to have been vaccinated with Covid-19, although the pharmaceutical regulator has not yet approved any.

Philippine Interior Minister Eduardo Ano said today that some of the ministers have been vaccinated with Covid-19.

Philippine Food and Drug Administration director Rolando Enrique Domingo confirmed that the country has not yet approved any Covid-19 vaccines, making it illegal to import, distribute or sell them.

The Philippine Ministry of Health later issued a statement stating that all vaccines should be evaluated by experts.

Philippine Deputy Health Minister Maria Rosario Vergeire said there was no information about vaccination to military soldiers, while Defense Ministry spokeswoman Edgard Arevalo confirmed that the agency's leadership had not approved the Covid-19 vaccination plan.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on December 26 that "nearly all soldiers" have been vaccinated, adding that "many" people in the country have been vaccinated with Covid-19 developed by China National Pharmaceutical Corporation.

The Chinese pharmaceutical company has not commented on the information yet.

The Duterte government is being criticized for its inability to sign a Covid-19 vaccine purchase agreement with pharmaceutical firm Pfizer, while neighboring Southeast Asian countries like Singapore and Indonesia have moved on to deliver vaccines.

Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin Jr.

So far, only Pfizer has applied for the emergency approval of Covid-19 vaccine in the Philippines.