Senate okays COVID-19 vaccine indemnity fund, hastened procurement

The Senate on Tuesday approved on second and third reading the measure seeking to expedite the procurement and administration of COVID-19 vaccines and establish a vaccine indemnity fund.

With 22 votes, the chamber approved Senate Bill 2057, sponsored by Senate Committee on Finance chair Sonny Angara, five days after President Rodrigo Duterte certified the measure as urgent.

Certifying a bill as urgent would allow it to be approved on second and third reading on the same session day.

Under the measure, the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) are authorized 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 if required by the supplier, manufacturer, or distributor, and they are allowed to purchase vaccines and supplies for up to 75% of their target population.

Private entities, in cooperation with the DOH and NTF, will also be allowed to purchase vaccines for their own use through a multiparty agreement. -NB, GMA News