Red Cross in talks with Pfizer, AstraZeneca for vaccines

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is in talks with Pfizer and AstraZeneca for the procurement of at least one million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for its nationwide inoculation program to help the country achieve herd immunity faster, Sen. Richard Gordon said yesterday.

Gordon, who chairs the PRC, said the negotiations are still in the early stages as the humanitarian organization is still seeking funds from donors to pay for the vaccines even as the two pharmaceutical giants have already expressed willingness to supply the serums.

“(The negotiations are) in the early days; let’s pray that we get them,” he told reporters in a video conference, adding that he was hoping to secure a “buy one, donate one” scheme in the PRC’s planned vaccination program.

The senator said he was able to separately talk to British Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce and the United Kingdom business chambers as AstraZeneca is based in the UK. Both have expressed willingness to move the negotiations forward and faster.

“If it’s just vaccination, we can easily help the government, if we’re called. We’ve been doing that for polio and measles every year. But if we will buy our own vaccines, (the PRC vaccination program) might take a little bit more and we are not there yet. I have to talk to (vaccine makers) how fast they can deliver it,” Gordon said.

He added that his priority – if the talks succeed – are PRC frontliners as he stressed that the organization would conduct vaccinations properly and safely.

The PRC is computing the costs carefully as the quoted prices of vaccines may not include transport and storage expenses, according to the PRC chair.

The PRC will also have to procure equipment to ensure the efficacy of the serums and supplies needed for the vaccination drive itself, and pay medical personnel who will inject the vaccines.

Another western firm to seek EUA

Meanwhile, another western manufacturer of COVID-19 vaccine is expected to apply for emergency use authorization (EUA) in the Philippines this week, Malacañang said yesterday.

“Right now, we are expecting in a day or two, I believe another western company to apply for an EUA. Let’s hope that they will because that’s the declaration of (Food and Drug Administration director general) Usec. (Eric) Domingo himself and (vaccine czar) Sec. (Carlito) Galvez (Jr.),” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said at a press briefing yesterday.

Pressed for more details, Roque replied: “Yesterday, they said (the application would be submitted) in two to three days. Let’s just wait for it,” he added.

So far, only American drug maker Pfizer has submitted an application for EUA to the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Under FDA’s rules, the procuring entity may also seek an EUA for COVID-19 vaccines, according to the Palace spokesman.

“If the DOH (applies), then we would need the assistance of our diplomatic missions in the place where they are manufactured to present or to procure the necessary documents and data that will be required by the FDA,” he said. – Alexis Romero, Edith Regalado, Mayen Jaymalin