Senators urge easing restrictions on local, private vaccine procurement

Senate President Vicente Sotto III and other senators urged government officials to ease restrictions on local governments (LGUs) and the private sector securing their own COVID-19 vaccines.

Sotto questioned whether safety concerns or the ongoing pandemic should be prioritized, suggesting that allowing more entities to procure vaccines could expedite distribution.

Senators like Ralph Recto criticized the national government's 'monopoly' on vaccine procurement, arguing it hinders timely access for Filipinos and proposed regulatory changes to permit private sector involvement.