MANILA – The Philippines could lose coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines from various pharmaceutical firms if authorities disclose their procurement prices to the public.
“Maaari pong mawala sa atin ang 148 million doses ng nine-negotiate po natin sa vaccine companies kapag lumabag po tayo sa ating kasunduan,” vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. Galvez said during Malacañang’s virtual presser on Tuesday.
“Kami po ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa publiko na irespeto po natin ang ating mga kontrata. Dito po nakasalalay ang ating 148 million na vaccine,” the former military general added.
Galvez made the statement as the Senate launched an inquiry into COVID-19 vaccine transactions, specifically on pricing transparency and efficacy.
The country’s chief implementer of the task force against COVID-19 also assured the public that the government will always try to negotiate for vaccines that are “safe, effective and cost-efficient.”
“Hindi po tayo papasok, ang pamahalaan, sa kahit anong negosasyon o pipirma sa isang kontrata kung tayo ay madedehado,” Galvez said. “We will always try to negotiate for safe, effective and cost-efficient vaccines.”
“Gusto ko pong ipaalam na ang sinusunod nating prinsipyo ay transparency at accountability. May karapatan ang mga mamamayan malaman ang bawat detalye na pinapasukan na agreement ng pamahalaan,” he added.
The Philippines has firmed up supply deals with China’s Sinovac, US-based Pfizer, Novavax, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Russia’s Gamaleya Institute.
The Philippines targets to inoculate 50 to 70 million individuals within the year, and an estimated 50,000 are expected to be vaccinated in February./PN
