Rappler
DOH short of P10 billion for COVID-19 vaccines
Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor urged Congress to allocate at least P20 billion for COVID-19 vaccine procurement.
The proposed P2.5 billion in the 2021 budget is insufficient to cover the cost of vaccinating the initial target group of 20 million poor Filipinos.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stated that the DOH lacks approximately P10 billion for vaccine procurement.
The DOH estimates needing P12.1 billion to inoculate priority populations, including health workers and indigent Filipinos.
Vergeire cited prospective prices for potential vaccines, most of which may require two doses.
Marikina City 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo warned that the P2.5 billion allocation would cover only 3.9 million of the targeted 20 million.
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