Alan Cayetano wants new DOH chief if vaccine delays persist in 2026

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday called for a new head of the Department of Health to replace Secretary Ted Herbosa if vaccine deliveries continue to be delayed next year.

During the Senate plenary hearing on the DOH's budget, Cayetano said vaccines expected in July or August have still not reached the country as of November 26, despite having an expiry date of December 31.

“The DOH is not delivering enough. Tapos pag nag-deliver, late. Tapos pag nag-deliver, ready to expire na ito,” he said.

(The DOH is not delivering enough. And when they do deliver, it’s late. The vaccines are already close to expiring.)

“Can you guarantee us that in 2026, there will be no delays? Because if not, let's get a secretary who can,” he added.

His sister Senator Pia Cayetano, the sponsor of the DOH budget, said that the secretary told her that the department “had a major procurement problem.”

“He has fired their procurement officer. As to whether they can handle it better next year, I don't know yet if there's an answer. Because the secretary admits that given the billions of pesos involved here, there is so much competition among the bidders,” she said.

Alan said bidders who hold the procurement process should be held liable.  

In January 2025, DOH said that at 61%, the Philippines remains short of its target of completely immunizing 95% of children against vaccine-preventable diseases. — BM, GMA Integrated News