DOH: Talks for procurement of new generation COVID-19 vaccines initiated

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said that they had initiated talks with vaccine manufacturers over the procurement of a new generation of COVID-19 vaccines which are effective against Omicron variants.

DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that they had started processing non-disclosure agreements and term sheets in their discussions.

Vergeire, however, said that these vaccines would be evaluated based on the processes of the Philippine government.

“Kapag tinignan itong mga bakuna na lumabas ngayon na bago and specific sa Omicron, this is still going to be evaluated again based on the processes of the government of the Philippines. We will still be further negotiating and discussing our agreements with manufacturers,” Vergeire said.

(When you look at these vaccines that came out, these are new and specific to Omicron, these will still be evaluated based on the processes of the Philippine government. There will be further negotiations and discussions on agreements with manufacturers.)

The DOH estimated that the new generation vaccines would arrive in the first quarter of 2023.

“So atin pong specific focus na kailangan pagtuunan ng pansin hanggang hindi pa dumadating ang new generation na bakuna na ito, kailangan lahat tayo magkaisa. Tayo ay mag-encourage pa din ng pagre-receive ng booster shots ng ating mga kababayan, specifically the first booster shots,” the Health official said.

(So we need to focus on encouraging our fellow Filipinos to get their first booster shots until this new generation vaccines arrive.)

“Kasi matagal pa panahon mula ngayon which is September hanggang dumating yung first quarter ng 2023, kailangan meron na kaakibat na protection ang ating mga kababayan habang nagaantay tayo for these new vaccines that will come in the country,” she added.

(It's still a significant amount of time between September and 2023's first quarter. We will need some form of protection against the viral disease while we wait for these new vaccines.)

Vergeire earlier said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was inclined to provide a budget for the procurement of second-generation COVID-19 vaccines.

She said that among the things they were asking Congress for in the 2023 fiscal year is for the funding for these new generation COVID-19 vaccines be made part of the programmed funds of the DOH.

However, the Department of Budget and Management said a P22 billion standby fund for vaccines was included in the unprogrammed appropriations of the budget.

The DBM said the programmed funds are appropriations with definite or identified funding as of the time the budget is prepared while unprogrammed funds depended on the revenue collection and when additional grants or foreign funds are generated. — DVM, GMA News