The Philippines has approved Sinovac Biotech’s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use, but will not give it to healthcare workers at risk of exposure due to its varying levels of efficacy, its Food and Drugs Agency said.

Late-stage trial data of Sinovac’s vaccine showed it had a lower efficacy when used for healthcare workers exposed to Covid-19 compared with healthy individuals age 18-59, said FDA chief Rolando Enrique Domingo.

The Philippines has about 1.4 million health workers.

“According to our experts, (Sinovac’s) vaccine is not the best vaccine for them,” Domingo said in a briefing, referring to health workers.