Duterte seeks more funds for free COVID-19 vaccines

Updated Fri, October 16, 2020 at 10:32 PM Published Wed, October 14, 2020 at 10:06 PM

President Rodrigo Duterte is seeking additional funds to ensure that all Filipinos can receive COVID-19 vaccines for free.

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go confirmed that the government has already set aside funds for vaccine purchases and is seeking additional funding.

Priority for vaccination will be given to the poor and vulnerable sectors, medical frontliners, and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP).

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque previously stated that without additional funds, only the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) members, AFP, and PNP would receive the vaccine for free.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III had previously targeted a P20-billion fund for vaccine purchases.

The Philippines is open to vaccines from Russia or China, with Russia intending to establish a pharmaceutical company in the country for vaccine production.

The Department of Health is preparing for COVID-19 vaccine phase clinical trials in November, and several international companies have applied for phase 3 trials in the Philippines.

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COVID-19 Philippine National Police Rodrigo Duterte Department of Health China Armed Forces of the Philippines Harry Roque Bong Go Russia Carlos Dominguez III 4PS

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