Drilon doubts COVID-19 vaccine program

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon expressed doubts about the national government's COVID-19 immunization program, deeming it "a shot in the moon" due to uncertainties in vaccine arrival and funding.

Drilon questioned the feasibility of acquiring 148 million vaccine doses within 2021 when no vaccine had yet received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and the necessary funds were not yet secured.

During a Senate hearing, executive officials presented the immunization plan, aiming to inoculate 50 to 70 million Filipinos this year, with the earliest vaccine delivery possibly on February 20.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. stated that approximately 50,000 individuals are expected to be vaccinated in February.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicated that decisions on EUA applications for Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines might be released soon, though Drilon remains skeptical of the FDA's assurance of issuing an EUA within the week for Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine.