Quimbo seeks separate House inquiry into COVID-19 vaccination program

Marikina City Representative Stella Quimbo on Wednesday filed a resolution calling for a separate House inquiry into the status of the government's COVID-19 vaccination program.

In House Resolution 1455, Quimbo also urged the Department of Health and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to ensure "cost-effective distribution and sufficient logistical equipment and capacity building" for the program's implementation.

"With the approval of the 2021 national budget, additional appropriations are available for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines. Tungkulin ng Kongreso na tiyaking walang masasayang na pondo dito," Quimbo said in a statement after filing the resolution.

"While there are reported negotiations ongoing with various pharmaceutical firms to acquire vaccines, I believe a clear plan is needed for how to maximize available funds across vaccine types, and to provide guidance on the amount of funds still needed. It is important to identify which vaccine brands are the most cost-effective," she added.

According to Quimbo, among the matters that should be looked into with regard to the COVID-19 vaccination program are the distribution and storage of the vaccine itself, the capacity and training of individuals who will administer it, as well as the role of the local government units and the private sector in the program.

At the same time, there is a need to know if the public is well-informed about the vaccine, and if they are willing to receive it, she added.

"The various ongoing efforts to obtain and distribute vaccines at the national and local level, as well as by the private sector, highlight the need for a coordinated system of monitoring," Quimbo said.

"Further, since there is much we still do not know about the vaccines’ long-term effectiveness, continuous monitoring will be critical for the program over time," she added.

Quimbo pointed out that a successful vaccine program is the most critical component to help the country recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We must take all steps possible to strengthen implementation and ensure cost-effectiveness so we can reach as many Filipinos as possible," she said.

The Senate has earlier set an inquiry into the COVID-19 vaccine rollout of the government for January 11. —KG, GMA News