National Policy Against Covid-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. announced yesterday that the government will sign another tripartite agreement with the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca, and the private sector today to secure 20 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine.
Galvez also emphasized that the country’s efforts on vaccine acquisition are not lacking.
“We are not lagging, we are more advance in signing supply deals from 30 million Covovax vaccines and 25 million doses of Sinovac vaccine,” he said.
He said the government could secure about 148 million doses of vaccine, once the ongoing negotiations with six Covid-19 vaccine developers push through.
Galvez said the government has been negotiating with various pharmaceutical companies, including AstraZeneca, Novavax, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac, and Gamaleya Institute.
NO MONOPOLY
Galvez has clarified issues hounding the government’s supposed “monopoly” over purchase negotiations for coronavirus vaccines.
He said the government has done various strategies to get access for the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines that include bilateral arrangements with vaccine manufacturers, and pursuing diplomatic relations with the other countries.
He added that the government has also entered into a tripartite agreement with the private sector and vaccine developers.
Galvez noted that the government also allows local government units to acquire vaccine supplies, through a tripartite deal with vaccine makers.
“I believe meron po tayong (we have some) misconceptions, binibigyan po nating ng daan ang mga LGUs at saka (we have been giving leeway for the LGUs and the) private sector through a tripartite agreement,” Galvez said during a virtual public briefing.
Some senators have earlier lamented that the national government is monopolizing all negotiations for the procurement of the vaccines. “We are letting the LGUs and the private sector to access the procurement of the vaccines, with our guidance,” Galvez said.*PNA
