Indemnity law not being proposed because Pinoys will get sick of COVID-19 vaccine —Angara

Senator Sonny Angara on Sunday clarified that a COVID-19 vaccine indemnification law is not being proposed because Filipinos will develop serious adverse effects when they receive the vaccine. 

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, Angara, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, said that such a measure is being required by some vaccine manufacturers to free them from any liability should their products cause serious adverse effects on vaccinees.

"'Yung indemnification, parang 'yun ang panigurado ng mga kompanya na kapag may nagkasakit ng dahil dito sa bakuna, ang sasagot diyan 'yung mga gobyerno na bumili ng bakuna," he said.

Angara explained that vaccine development usually takes up to four stages. But considering that the world is experiencing a pandemic, the World Health Organization and the Philippines' Food and Drug Administration already gave emergency use authorization for some vaccines even without completing all phases.

"Bago magamit o mabenta ang isang gamot, kailangan dumaan sa Food and Drug Administrator para ito ay safe at walang perwisyo sa ating mga kababayan," Angara said.

"Itong indemnity, ito ang hinahanap ng mga manufacturers sapagkat alam nila, mabilisan lang ito at hiningi ito ng mga gobyerno sapagkat nasa emergency tayo, nasa ilalim tayo ng pandemya," he added.

But Angara noted that he was not saying that Filipinos will definitely develop serious adverse effects in taking the vaccines.

"Kung sakali [lang ito]. Importante kasi na kapag napapag-usapan ito, baka akala ng tao dito naka-focus ang ating vaccination at inaasahan natin na magkakasakit sila. Hindi ganu'n ang magiging kaso," he said.

"Ito lang ay hiningi lang ng ilang kompanya na nagbebenta ng bakuna especially 'yung sa ilalim ng COVAX facility," he added.

Angara is the sponsor of Senate Bill 2057, which seeks to establish a vaccine indemnity fund and expedite the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.

Under the measure, a P500-million COVID-19 National Indemnity Fund will also be established under the measure and will only be used to compensate any inoculated person who will experience severe adverse effects or worse, death. 

The measure likewise authorizes the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 to undertake negotiated procurement of COVID-19 vaccines and the ancillary supplies and services for their storage, transport, and distribution.

It also allows local government units to purchase COVID-19 vaccines and ancillary supplies and services in cooperation with the DOH and NTF through multiparty agreements.

The LGUs will be allowed to make advance payments but they can only purchase vaccines and supplies for up to 50% of their target population. The 50% cap may be adjusted by the IATF depending on the supply.

Angara earlier said that the Senate may already approve the measure on second and third reading on the same session day due to the certification of urgency issued by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Congress may also skip bicameral conference committee deliberations on the measure to fast-track its approval. —KG, GMA News