Covax required Philippines to pass 'indemnification law', says Galvez

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Monday urged lawmakers to include an "indemnification clause" in the proposed third Bayanihan Law to ensure compensation for individuals who may develop serious side effects after taking a COVID-19 vaccine.

During the House Committee on Health inquiry into the government's COVID-19 vaccination program, Galvez stressed the need for the country to have an indemnification law as it prepares for the distribution of the vaccine to the public.

"Ang hinihiling namin po is magkaroon ng legislation for the indemnification kasi ito napakahalaga po nito. Yung COVAX po required na meron tayong indemnification law. Alalahanin po natin na meron tayong 40 million doses na nakasalalay dito," Galvez said.

"Mas maganda po sana na magkaroon ng Bayanihan 3, na isama na rin po yung indemnification clause," he added.

Food and Drug Administration director general Eric Domingo said other countries like the United States and the United Kingdom have their own indemnification law so that their citizens who would experience adverse effects after taking a vaccine would be compensation.

"Kapag tayo ay nagbakuna, knowing that we are doing it for the good of the whole population and that it's always possible that somebody might get an unusual severe reaction to it, kapag nagkaroon ng vaccination injury, meron talaga sa batas nila na indemnification or compensation para doon sa nabakunahan," he said.

"Isa siyang policy ng maraming bansa sa buong mundo na baka panahon na sanang pag-isipan natin hindi lang para sa COVID-19 kundi para sa lahat ng vaccination programs," he added.

During the Senate hearing last week, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also urged senators to also include an indemnification provision in the proposed third Bayanihan law.

"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.

Last December, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto filed the Bayanihan to Rebuild as One bill or Bayanihan 3, which provides for a P485-billion appropriation for various government interventions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including P55 billion for the purchase of medicine and vaccines.

At least two Bayanihan 3 bills have been filed at the House of Representatives.

The Philippines targets to inoculate 50 to 70 million individuals within the year, and an estimated 50,000 is expected to be vaccinated in February.

Galvez earlier said the vaccine manufactured by American corporation Pfizer could be the first that will be used against COVID-19 in the country as the COVAX Facility will have an early rollout of the said brand. -NB, GMA News