Private companies were allowed to procure COVID-19 vaccines under the tripartite deal with the Philippine government, according to Roque.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday said that private companies were allowed to procure COVID-19 vaccines under the tripartite deal with the Philippine government.
Roque said in his press briefing that all private companies — including those selling infant milk formula, tobacco, soda, and liquor — were allowed to procure COVID-19 vaccines for their employees provided that they would do it under a tripartite agreement with the national government and the vaccine manufacturer.
Roque clarified that all private companies were allowed to buy COVID-19 vaccines — including cigarette companies — under the amended Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the COVID-19 Vaccination Law.
However, Roque stressed that such agreements by private companies should be done in a tripartite agreement with the national government.
“Isa pa pong paglilinaw, puwede na pong bumili ng bakuna ang lahat ng pribadong kumpanya, kasama ang cigarette companies. This is under the amended IRR of the COVID-19 Vaccination Law. Hindi po puwedeng mawala ang tripartite agreement [kasama ang gobyerno],” Roque said.
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Roque’s announcement came after a number of lawmakers raised concerns over the supposed plan of the Department of Health and the National Task Force Against COVID-19 to prevent such private firms involved in manufacturing products “in conflict with public health” from buying COVID-19 vaccines for their employees.
Prior to this, World Health Organization (WHO) country representative for the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said that such procurement restriction wasn’t based on a whim.
READ ALSO: Private Companies Should Have Access To Vaccines — Concepcion
During the Laging Handa briefing, Rabindra said that there were limitations in providing opportunities to those companies to provide for health-related services or using health-related services for marketing or advocacy.
However, Rabindra clarified that policies shouldn’t deny vaccines to anybody.
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