EU's ban on COVID vaccine exports not an issue —Mayors Belmonte, Tiangco

The European Union's ban on the exportation of COVID-19 vaccines will not be a problem for the supply of vaccines in some cities in Metro Manila, at least two mayors in the region said Wednesday.

At a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said no money was released when localities signed an agreement with European drugmaker AstraZeneca and that they are also discussing vaccine procurement with other pharmaceutical firms.

"Katulad nang nabanggit ko, all we did was sign the tripartite agreement. No money has been released from our coffers and there are many, many vaccine suppliers that, I think, now are willing to engage in talks with local government. So 'di naman malaking kawalan din tingin ko. Although time would probably be lost," Belmonte said.

"Pero then again kung may problema ang AstraZeneca that wouldn't be an issue because wala naman silang supply... We don't see this as a problem for us at the moment," she added.

Belmonte also said AstraZeneca has not mentioned to them any adverse effects of the EU's prohibition on their tripartite deals.

On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte said the EU is holding up the supply of the COVID-19 vaccines, particularly the one by AstraZeneca, after it adopted a new measure restricting the exportation of vaccines.

In response, the EU delegation clarified that the Philippines and other low- and middle-income nations, are exempted from the ban.

Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco, meanwhile, is confident with the vaccines that will come from the World Health Organization's COVAX facility, saying it will provide vaccines to 20% of the country’s population and only 15% will be free while the remaining 5% will be paid for by the national government.

"Ang magandang balita, because of the COVAX facility of the WHO, 'yun 'yung assurance natin na magkakaroon ang national government," Tiangco said.

"Again, 'yung pinirmahan ng local government ay tulong lang o augmentation doon sa national government even Secretary (Carlito) Galvez tells us 70% ng bakuna, sagot nila, 30% lang ang tulong ng lokal na pamahalaan so may assurance tayong ganoon," he added. —KBK, GMA News