Galvez ready to take flak for vaccine program

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Friday said he would be among those responsible whatever happens to the national government's COVID-19 vaccination program.

"Talagang responsible is the national government. You will speak about who will be responsible? I myself will be responsible for what I'm doing right now and also all the members of the NTF," Galvez said in a Senate Committee of the Whole hearing, answering the question of Senator Risa Hontiveros.

"I will take care of the responsibility because the President has also said that in this procurement process, I will be held responsible for this, together with [Defense] Secretary [Delfin] Lorenzana and also [Interior] Secretary [Eduardo] Ano," he added.

The retired military general said this is the reason executive officials want the vaccine negotiations to be "transparent, diligent and science-based."

During the same hearing, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also urged lawmakers to include in the proposed Bayanihan 3 law a provision that would provide for the compensation to Filipinos who will suffer from any adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccines that will be used in the immunization program of the government.

"Hindi naman po kasi pwede ipagkaila na hindi mangyayari o walang walang mangyayaring adverse events. Hopefully wala, pero alam naman po natin kahit na papano, itong mga bakuna ay talagang may kaakibat na adverse events," he said.

"Ito pong indemnification fund na aming ipinapanukala ay para po doon sa mga  kababayan natin na pag naturukan ay magkaroon po ng adverse effects or side effects following immunization," he added.

The Philippine government targets to vaccinate around 50 to 70 million individuals within the year, with at least  50,000 expected to be inoculated in February.—LDF, GMA News