Sen. De Lima files bill for free COVID-19 vaccines for all Filipinos

Senator Leila De Lima has filed Senate Bill 1942, the "Libreng Bakuna Kontra COVID-19 Para sa Lahat ng Pilipino Act," aiming to provide free COVID-19 vaccines to all Filipinos.

The proposed bill seeks to mandate that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) referral hospitals and tertiary public hospitals offer free vaccines.

De Lima emphasized the importance of guaranteeing free vaccination for all Filipinos, stating that their right to health should not be compromised.

Four vaccine makers have applied for clinical trials in the Philippines: Sinovac Biotech Ltd., Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, and Clover Biopharmaceuticals.

British drugmaker AstraZeneca has withdrawn its application for local trials.

Congress has allocated P2.5 billion for vaccines under the Department of Health budget, P70 billion in unprogrammed funds, and a P10 billion standby fund from Bayanihan II, bringing the total vaccine allocation to P82.5 billion.