DOH: No final agreement on anti-COVID vaccine allocation yet

The Philippines has yet to enter into a final agreement when it comes to the number of anti-COVID-19 vaccines that will be available to Filipinos, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said Friday.

The government's task force in COVID-19 response has recently approved the allocation of funds for the country's participation in the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX), a global facility that helps ensure equal access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Aside from the Philippines, the initiative gained the support of more than 150 countries, according to the World Health Organization.

Vergeire said that while the government is engaged with COVAX, the fine print on the allocation of COVID-19 vaccines per country is not yet available.

“May kausap na po tayo, itong COVAX facility, meron na tayong engagement with them. Ang negotiations po diyan, basta pumasok ka diyan, may kailangan rin na contribution, but definitely bawat country will be assured na 20% of their population ay mabibigyan [ng vaccine],” Vergeire said.

“Wala pang final agreement, but we are trying very hard na makapasok tayo because that would benefit the country,” she added.

Vergeire said that the country is also in talks with three other pharmaceutical companies from China and one from Chinese Taipei regarding the vaccine.

“Mayroon rin silang mga ino-offer sa atin,” she said.

Vergeire also said vaccines will have to be approved by the country's regulatory authorities if they come from China or the United States to ensure that they are safe and effective.

“May advantage iyong recognized na ng regulatory authorities ng US at China. Pag pumasok sila rito, mas madali na ang proseso. Pero dahil bagong pasok sila, kailangan pa ring dumaan sa regulatory process natin to ensure ito ay safe at effective sa ating mga kababayan,” Vergeire said.

In a meeting with Cabinet offiicals that was aired on Friday, President Rodrigo Duterte said the country will be back to normal by December because of anti-COVID-19 vaccines from China.

"We would be back to normal. By December, tapos ito lahat," he said as he "guaranteed" that the poor will be prioritized in the distribution of the vaccine, which he said would be free.

"Ito ang guarantee ko, ang unang makakatanggap, 'yung sa mahirap, 'yung binibigyan ng assistance ng gobyerno, iyong mga nasa ospital, tapos middle income. Libre ito (vaccine)," Duterte said. —KBK, GMA News