Government signing deal with AstraZeneca this month

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The Philippine government may enter into an agreement with the United Kingdom’s AstraZeneca for the supply of COVID-19 vaccines before the end of the month.

In his report to President Duterte during the meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Monday, National Action Plan against COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez said the government and AstraZeneca may sign the deal next week.

“This coming week, either Dec. 28 or 29, we are waiting for the Ministry of Health Regulatory Authorization of the United Kingdom then we can start signing the contract,” Galvez said.

He said the government would procure 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for local government units and 10 million doses for the private sector.

AstraZeneca’s price is pegged at only $5 or around P500 for two shots of COVID-19 vaccine intended for an individual.

The government is also negotiating with Serum Institute of India for the supply of vaccines.

Under a tieup with America’s Novavax Inc., the vaccines will be manufactured in India.

The Indian pharmaceutical company, which promised to deliver 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, will comply with Republic Act 9184 and will not ask for cash advance, giving the government more flexibility, according to Galvez.

“So all in all, if we sign this month, we will be able to get 60 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for the second quarter and third quarter next year,” Galvez told the President.

Duterte assured the public that the government has funding for the vaccine procurement.

“According to Budget Secretary (Wendel) Avisado and Finance Secretary (Carlos) Dominguez, may pera (there is money)… So walang problema,” he said.

‘Philippines not ready for Pfizer vaccines’

The Philippines is not yet ready to handle millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses early next year as it takes a lot of logistical work, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez said.

Pfizer vaccines should be stored in an ultra-cold freezer, thermal shipping container or refrigerator. Cold storage is crucial to COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

“It is OK that we were not able to get Pfizer vaccines because we were not ready to receive them anyway. It takes a lot of logistical work to do all of this,” Romualdez said in an interview on CNN Philippines on Monday night.

“And even if we were able to close that deal, it will probably be very difficult for us to bring all of them. I guess it’s better that the deal didn’t push through,” he added.

The vaccine developed by Moderna does not require the kind of refrigeration as the one manufactured by Pfizer, Romualdez said.

Last week, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the Philippines was assured of getting 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer by January next year until “somebody dropped the ball.”

Locsin confirmed that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was the one who had “dropped the ball” in the negotiations with American drug maker Pfizer.

Romualdez said the Philippines’ deal with Pfizer for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines is still “in progress.”

He said the delivery date of the vaccines was pushed back to June next year because other nations finalized the deals earlier.

Duterte lamented that the Philippines is not being prioritized in the acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines because it is poor, unlike the big shots such as the United States.

“May I just explain to the public the reason why we seemed to be a second fiddle in these negotiations for the acquisition of vaccines. It’s because  the vaccines are manufactured in rich countries, just like Pfizer,” the President said. “So the United States will be the first priority.”

Duterte said there is still no Pfizer vaccines available for the Philippines.

“They are giving the vaccine to Americans, they are scrambling for it. They said they have some but that remains to be seen if there will be extra supply and when they can give them to us,” the President said. – Pia Lee Brago