The Philippine government was exploring multiple sources of COVID-19 vaccines, according to Senator Go
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Monday said that the Philippine government was exploring multiple sources of COVID-19 vaccines in order to ensure access of Filipinos to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to overcome the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Senator Go, the chairman of the Senate Health and Demography Committee, mentioned that the private sector had also been raising funds in order to assist the country in acquiring sufficient numbers of COVID-19 vaccines for Filipinos.
Go also said that the country was aiming to finalize its negotiations with Sinovac Biotech in order to acquire 25 million vaccine doses of the company’s COVID-19 vaccine for delivery by March 2021.
In addition, Go said that vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. was at present in advanced discussions with the vaccine company to secure a deal that would be beneficial to the country’s fight against the coronavirus disease.
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Go also said that he didn’t believe that the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines from Sinovac had anything to do with preference as he stressed that market availability was the primary consideration of the government for conducting negotiations with the company for COVID-19 vaccines.
He added that Galvez was also in talks with several other vaccine makers that could supply the Philippines with the COVID-19 vaccines.
Go encouraged that vaccine czar Galvez and Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III to inject themselves first with the COVID-19 vaccine in order to allay the fears of several people and build their confidence on its efficacy and safety.
“(This is) to encourage naman po at mawala ang takot ng mga tao, pero dapat unahin natin ang poor, vulnerable, and frontliners, of course. Sila ang nangunguna sa labang ito — sundalo, guro, medical workers. Huwag rin natin pabayaan ang mga senior citizens natin na vulnerable, especially ang mga mahihirap na kailangan lumabas at magtrabaho — dapat po libre ito sa mahihirap,’’ Go said.
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