DOH: Low cost not sole factor in procuring COVID-19 vaccine

The safety and effectiveness of the potential vaccine against COVID-19 take precedence when it comes to procuring them, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Wednesday.

Vergeire made the response days after President Rodrigo Duterte said the country will buy the cheapest anti-COVID-19 vaccine because all vaccines have the same effect anyway.

Vergeire, during an online forum, said the potential vaccines against COVID-19 have to be cleared by the World Health Organization and by regulatory agencies in the Philippines before the DOH procures them.

“Ang gusto po natin ay iyong pinakamabisa for our population. Bago tayo bumili ng bakuna, dapat masigurado natin ‘yung safety at efficacy. Kaya nga po tayo bumuo pa ng vaccine expert panel under Department of Science and Technology to ensure this,” she said.

Vergeire then said that the vaccine should be registered with the Food and Drug Administration and cleared by the Philippine National Drug Formulary, Health Technology Assessment Council, and WHO.

“Dapat po ang bakuna, pre-qualified po ng WHO kasi tedious na po ang pre-qualifications ng WHO. So this is another layer of safeguard. Dapat po may clearance from international and reputable institutions abroad,” she said.

“Iyong presyo will always matter, pero kung may makita po tayo na pinakamura na safe at effective, iyan po ang objective rin natin,” Vergeire added.

The Philippines has recorded 241,987 COVID-19 cases thus far. Of this number, 185,178 recovered while 3,916 died.

The number of active cases is at 52,893. —KBK, GMA News