PH closing deals with vaccine companies by end November

CALOOCAN CITY, Nov. 21 (PIA) -- National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF COVID-19) Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Friday said their team is looking to sign deals with American and British vaccine makers this month and three or four more in December, with the target of securing enough doses of COVID-19 vaccines for 25 million Filipinos.

Galvez said they are getting in touch with the United States' Johnson & Johnson and Novavax brands and the United Kingdom's AstraZeneca as he expressed confidence of quick approval from the Food and Drug Administration once foreign regulators with "stringent" rules clear the emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has approved advance market commitments with private foreign developers and early payments to secure supply of vaccines to the Philippines.

“Most likely within November 30 matatapos natin ‘yong dalawa o tatlo sa kinakausap nating mga embahada,” Galvez said during a virtual press briefing today.

He cited China, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America as among the host countries of the companies that are set to conduct clinical trials in the country.

“Maganda rin po iyon dahil dumaan po sa proseso ng clinical trial mismo dito sa bansa at the same time makukuha rin natin ang mga ito sa mababang presyo,” Galvez added.

The ongoing negotiations with the pharmaceutical companies are part of the nation’s effort to secure safe, effective, and cost-efficient vaccines against COVID-19 under the Philippine National Vaccine Roadmap.

Once the deals are signed, Galvez said the suppliers may ask for a downpayment worth anywhere between 10-50% of the doses, payable within two months. Delivery of the vaccines is expected in 6-7 months, or by the middle of next year.

Payments will be coursed through the Asian Development Bank for transparency, Galvez said, but noted that he cannot disclose yet the unit price of the vaccines.

"Naka-allot po kami ng more or less, nasa range ng ₱30 billion to ₱50 billion – 'yung vaccine pa lang po 'yun. We will allocate maybe twice of that 'yung logistics and mobilization kasi mas mahal 'yung tinatawag nating supply chain," the vaccine czar said. (PIA NCR)

Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)