LGUs Can’t Buy COVID-19 Vaccines On Their Own, Can Pool Resources With National Gov’t – Palace, DOH

Malacañang and the Department of Health (DOH) clarified on Monday, Jan. 4, that local government units (LGUs) cannot simply procure vaccines for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on their own.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque and DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the statements as the local governments of Manila, Makati, Pasig and Cainta announced that they will be giving free COVID-19 vaccines to their residents.

“Well, unang-una, lahat po ng mga transaksiyon sa mga (all the transactions with) manufacturers will be government-to-government,” Roque said in a press briefing.

Roque explained orders for vaccines could not be done independently from what National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. would negotiate with pharmaceutical firms.

Roque and Vergeire noted the LGUs can pool their resources with the national government.

“So let’s just say we welcome the contribution of the LGUs kasi ibig sabihin mas marami tayong budget para bumili ng vaccine at hindi lang iyong manggagaling sa pondo ng national government,” Roque said.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno disclosed that the city government had allotted P200 million while Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay earmarked P1 billion for the COVID-19 vaccines.

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto also announced has set aside P300 million for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines while Cainta appropriated local funds combined with P150 million Internal Revenue Allotment for the inoculation of all its residents against the disease.

Binay said the city government will coordinate with Galvez and follow the processes set by the DOH and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Vergeire also pointed out that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not issued any certificate of product registration (CPR) for any vaccine.

Vergeire said a vaccine product will be available in the market only when it has received a CPR from FDA.  Also, the CPR cannot be secured unless a clinical trial has been completed and the product approved.

When it comes to the emergency use authorization issued by FDA to manufacturers, “the only one that can procure is the national government,” she added.

An EUA is issued as exemption to some regulatory processes for licensing in this time of public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, only US drugmaker Pfizer Inc. has applied with FDA for EAU.

On other hand, only Janssen Pharmaceuticals has been given the go signal to do clinical trials for its COVID-19 vaccine in the country  while the application for trial of Sinovac Biotech Ltd. and Clover Biopharmacueticals, both from China, remain pending with the FDA.

Vergeire has urged the LGUS to work with the national government for their immunization program against COVID-19.

“We can pool the funds and the national government can procure and have an effective distribution system. We are requesting our LGUs so we can have a unified effort so we can avoid technicalities,” she said.

The official also assured the public that immunization will be based on the “officially declared list” of priorities for vaccination.

As this developed, Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sta. Romana said two Chinese drugmakers may seek EUA for their COVID-19 vaccines in the Philippines this week.

Romana noted that Sinopharm has secured approval for general use in China while Sinovac is expected to hear from Chinese authorities this month.

"Our embassy is in touch with these two companies of course and we tried to facilitate their contact with IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) and if there is any information that is needed," Sta. Romana said in a press briefing.

"We ask them when they will file for EAU with the FDA in the Philippines. Apparently, their plan right now, according to them is that they hope to file in the next few days sometime this week," he added.

Last month, President Duterte signed Executive Order No. 121 allowing the FDA director general to issue EUA for COVID-19 drugs and vaccines.

 Sta. Romana said the results of the use of Chinese vaccines have been "pretty good." He said most of the Chinese business managers and engineers who are involved in infrastructure projects in the Philippines have taken the vaccine.

 Critics have criticized the government's plan to buy vaccines from Chinese firms, saying they are less effective and more expensive compared to those produced by other countries. Some senators have also cited reports that the efficacy rate of Sinovac is just 50 percent, lower than those produced by western companies.

 Officials have given assurances that the 50 percent efficacy rate is compliant with the minimum requirement set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for vaccines.

 Last week, the Duterte administration drew flak after it was revealed that some members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) were given unregistered Sinopharm vaccines. Officials insist that vaccination was legal and was in line with PSG's duty to protect the President.

 The private sector is also working with the government to ensure that the Philippines has access to COVID-19 vaccines.

 Business tycoon Fernando Zobel of Ayala Corp. said the private sector has decided to order 450,000 vaccines developed by British-Swedish pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca plc and University of Oxford and would be donating doses worth P120 million to the government.

 "The total cost as I have understood it is $5.50 (each), with the 50 centavos being for the logistical requirements to bring it in," Zobel said.

 "We’re also helping with the distribution which is going to be a very important component in making sure that the vaccines can get to the public," he added. – With Alexis Romero