Manila Bulletin
Sen. Hontiveros wants gov’t to be more prudent in choosing COVID-19 vaccine provider
Senator Risa Hontiveros urged the Philippine government to prioritize science and transparency in procuring COVID-19 vaccines, not political favor.
She expressed concerns about the government's deal for 25 million Sinovac vaccine doses, citing a lack of assessment by the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Hontiveros also mentioned that Sinovac is one of the more expensive options and highlighted a history of bribery associated with the company.
She stressed that the government must earn public trust by strictly following established protocols and backing vaccine choices with scientific proof.
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. mentioned an offer to secure 10 million doses of Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine as early as January 2021.
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Sinovac Biotech, a Chinese pharmaceutical company, is facing scrutiny over past bribery allegations as it seeks to supply coronavirus vaccines to the Philippine market.
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Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. reminded the public that only the Philippine government is authorized to procure and administer COVID-19 vaccines.
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Most procurement agreements for COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be signed by January 2021, according to vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr.
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The Philippines is in talks with China for its first COVID-19 vaccine, with an expected administration in March 2021.
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The Philippine government is seeking a $325 million (P15.6 billion) loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to fund the procurement and logistical costs of COVID-19 vaccines.
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