Some Philippine soldiers and cabinet ministers have already received Covid-19 vaccine injections, Reuters quoted officials as saying, despite an absence of regulatory approval that the country’s health ministry said was vital to ensure safety.

Interior minister, Eduardo Ano, said some cabinet members have already received Covid-19 vaccines and army chief, Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, said some troops had been vaccinated but the number was not large. Neither said what brand of vaccine was administered.

Food and Drug Administration head Rolando Enrique Domingo said Philippine regulators have yet to approve any Covid-19 vaccine, making any importation, distribution and sale of one illegal. Domingo warned the public that unapproved vaccines exposed them to “all sorts of dangers” and told CNN Philippines that side effects were possible “especially if you don’t know how these things have been handled”.

President Rodrigo Duterte during a televised meeting with health officials on Saturday said “almost all” soldiers have already been inoculated.

Asked if the soldiers’ vaccination was authorised by the president’s office, Sobejana said: “Well of course, our president is our commander-in-chief.”