Recto proposes P150-B fund for COVID-19 vaccines in 2021 budget

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto proposed allocating up to P150 billion in the 2021 national budget for COVID-19 vaccines and cold storage.

Recto made this suggestion during Senate debates on the 2021 budget, emphasizing the need for funds to cover vaccine procurement and logistics.

He noted that pharmaceutical companies require their vaccines to be stored at minus-75 degrees Celsius until administration, highlighting the significant cost of maintaining such a cold chain.