Rep. Rodriguez urges gov't to let LGUs buy vaccines directly

House Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez is urging the national government to allow local government units (LGUs) to directly purchase COVID-19 vaccines from manufacturers.

Rodriguez filed House Resolution 1460, which supports private companies purchasing vaccines for their employees and urges the government's pandemic task force to allow localities to import vaccines.

He cited the constitutional right to health and noted that the national government's procurement, allocated P72.5 billion under the 2021 national budget, only covers at least 30 percent of the country's population, preventing herd immunity.

Numerous provinces and cities have already allocated significant funds for vaccine acquisition.

Rodriguez stated that LGUs should be authorized to buy vaccines as long as they have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

He also appealed to the FDA to fast-track its procedure in approving COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use, noting that vaccines from Pfizer and AstraZeneca have already been approved in countries with more stringent regulations.