Duterte: Philippines to get most affordable vaccine

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will go for the most affordable vaccine available in the market as President Duterte believes there is no difference among the potential immunizations against COVID-19.

Duterte said he does not believe that cheaper vaccines are less effective than expensive ones.

“Kung sino, pare-pareho lang naman ‘yan. Parehong germs ‘yan eh. Kung sino lang ang nauna magbigay sa atin na mura, doon tayo pupunta, kasi (Which one, they’re all the same anyway. They deal with the same germs. Whichever is first to give us a cheap price, we’ll go for that because) they know that we do not have enough money,” Duterte said during a public address from Malacañang on Monday.

“Kung mahal masyado (If it’s too expensive), we will go for the less expensive ones... It does not mean the one developed by the US is more effective and that by China is inferior or by Russia is better while those of other nations are not that good,” he added. Duterte said pharmaceutical firms are rushing to develop the vaccines for COVID-19, which has infected about 239,000 people in the Philippines.

He said US firm Moderna may finish its vaccine by September. China-based Sinovac is also about to finish its vaccine, the President added. “What is being cultured and cultivated and then harvested and placed in your body is the same germs COVID-19. There is no difference. So let us wait for them to fast-track (the development of vaccines),” Duterte said.

Last month, Duterte expressed willingness to be the first one to try the vaccine developed by Russia.

However, experts said the 75-year-old Duterte is not qualified to participate in the clinical trials.

The President also announced plans to tap loans to ensure that all Filipinos will be vaccinated.