Zubiri to Palace: Pick COVID vaccine based on efficacy, cost-effectiveness

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Sunday urged Malacañang to choose the "best" vaccine against COVID-19 based on efficacy, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

Zubiri made the remark after getting information that China's Sinovac, which Malacañang earlier said to be the Philippines' top pick for a COVID-19 vaccine, only yielded a 50% efficacy rate in late-stage trials in Brazil, aside from being more costly compared to other vaccines available.

"Kung pipili tayo ng gamot, we're looking at efficacy, effectivity, efficiency at pricing. Kasi gusto natin mas marami tayong mabibiling bakuna para sa nakakarami nating kababayan," Zubiri said in a Dobol B sa News TV interview.

"We are asking Malacañang to pick the best one. Dapat pumili sila yung pinakamaganda at pinakaepektibo," he added.

Zubiri said that while it was Congress that assured funding for the procurement of a COVID vaccine under the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021, lawmakers would rather not intervene in the process of picking the right vaccine for Filipinos.

"Ayaw naman namin mamilit. Kasi kapag namilit kami baka sabihin na meron pang kickback ang mga senador," he said.

"Ang gusto lang namin magkaroon ng rekomendasyon. Yung rekomendasyon na dapat yan ay accepted ng scientific community, accepted ng buong mundo. Dahil may mga bansa talaga na hindi sila papayag din sa 50% efficacy," he added.

Zubiri finds it unacceptable to just choose a vaccine that is only 50% effective.

"Bakit tayo pipili ng bakuna na 50-50? 50-50 chance na makuha mo yung COVID-19? Paglabas mo ng bahay, parang 50-50 diyan pwede mo pang makuha ang COVID-19. Sayang lang ang pera. Napakamahal pa," he said.

In terms of effectiveness, Pfizer's vaccine was 95% effective according to final results from its late-stage trial. AstraZeneca's vaccine is 90% effective if the vaccine was administered as a half dose followed by a full dose.

When it comes to cost, Sinovac is P3,629 per two doses, relatively higher than Pfizer at P2,379 per two doses and AstraZeneca at P610 per two doses.

"Napakaliit ng ating financial resources, so let us make the maximum use of it. Let us buy vaccines that are effective but also cost-effective," Zubiri said.

"At sana peer-reviewed, yung science ang sumagot na ito yung mga ligtas na bakuna. Huwag tayong umasa sa 50-50 percent," he added.

The Senate Committee of the Whole is expected to conduct an inquiry into the government's COVID-19 vaccination program on January 11.

Despite Sinovac's 50% efficacy, Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Health Research Development executive director Jaime Montoya said it still meets the minimum requirement of the World Health Organization. —LBG, GMA News