By Christine Fabro
The National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 is committed to allocate more equitable vaccine supply to all provinces by October to achieve at least 50% to 60% of population protection nationwide by the end of this year, an official said.
In today’s (Sept. 28) Laging Handa public briefing, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) and Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo Cua said that from the end of August until start of September, the vaccination coverage on provinces is estimated at only 18% to 20%.
“Sa tingin ko po, sa paliwanag naman ng ating NTF […] commitment ng mga […] suppliers noong mga pharmaceuticals ay kaya naman siguro maabot natin iyong 50% to 60%by December, nationwide average,” Cua said.
Further, Cua appealed to expedite the granting of Commercial Product Registration (CPR) to COVID-19 vaccines that are listed in the emergency use authorization (EUA) to make such vaccines available in the market.
“Iyon po ang isa nating panawagan na sana mapabilis iyong pagbibigay ng commercially available or CPR ng mga bakuna na binibigyan naman na rin sa ibang bansa para tuwina po, to be available in the botika iyong mga bakunang ito, private sector, mamamayan, even LGUs [local government units] diretso na pong makakabili,” Cua said.
Amid the government’s authorization for the LGUs to procure their own vaccines, Cua said that some COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers do not accept deals from LGUs.
“Kahit mayroon na tayong batas na ipinasa noong nakaraang March, ay may mga pharmaceuticals na ayaw pa rin pong makipag-deal with the LGUs. National government lang daw po talaga exclusively ang gusto nilang kausap,” Cua said.
In an earlier statement by the Department of Health (DOH), it said that pursuant to Republic Act 11525 or the “COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021”, private companies and LGUs are authorized to procure COVID-19 vaccines which have been given EUA by the Food and Drug Administration, in cooperation with the DOH and the NTF through a tripartite agreement.
According to Cua, “bottlenecks” in some provinces are mainly caused by insufficient storage facilities for the cold storage requirement of some COVID-19 vaccines. – rir
