Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18) — Former envoy Ramon Tulfo on Thursday claimed Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Debold Sinas was vaccinated against COVID-19 together with him back in November.
In his column for The Manila Times, Tulfo said they both got injected with “smuggled” Sinopharm vaccines.
“Sinas will survive because he got injected with the Sinopharm vaccine along with this columnist in November last year,” wrote Tulfo. “Sinas was inoculated with the smuggled vaccine along with his security escorts.”
However, the PNP chief hit back, saying he would not have been infected by the coronavirus if he were already vaccinated. Sinas announced last week he tested positive for COVID-19.
“Our Chief simply said if he had his vaccine, he could not have been infected with COVID-19,” PNP spokesperson PBGen. Idelbrandi Usana said in a brief statement.
Experts have said a person injected with a COVID-19 vaccine may still test positive given that it is not 100% effective. Food and Drug Administration Director General Eric Domingo explained infection is still possible after the first dose and it would take at least two weeks to develop the antibodies that will fight the coronavirus. Full protection will only take effect after the second dose.
“During the first few weeks after you were injected with the vaccine you have no protection,” Domingo said. “This is the time when your immune system is trying to develop.”
