Robredo to government: Come up with vaccine distribution plan

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo has urged the government to immediately come up with a plan on the distribution of vaccine against COVID-19 in the country once it becomes available.

“We agree that the vaccine is important – which is why it is not enough to simply wait for it. As early as now, we have to prepare for its massive deployment once it’s developed,” Robredo said in a video message posted on her official Facebook page.

“Administering a vaccine to millions of Filipinos is no easy task – we need to have a plan, the infrastructure and a mechanism, that as much as possible can be downloaded to the level of barangay health units,” she said.

Robredo also noted that the P2.5 billion allotted under the proposed budget for 2020 could only vaccinate around 3.8 million people.

“According to the DOH (Department of Health), this will only be enough for 3.8 million people. What about the more than 100 million left? As early as now, we need to focus and prepare for the financial and other needs for the vaccine,” she said.

Earlier, the DOH said it would provide a detailed roadmap for its procurement and rollout once a viable vaccine for procurement is identified.

Only 20 percent of the P12.9 billion needed to purchase vaccines against COVID-19 has been included in the proposed operational budget of the DOH next year.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, the earliest possible availability of a COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines would be April 2021.

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