Duterte on vaccines: Are they here yet?

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte’s patience is wearing thin over the delayed arrival of COVID-19 vaccines from Western countries and China, as it has set back the first wave of the inoculation drive supposedly scheduled this month, Malacañang said yesterday.

“I will be frank with you, the President has spoken that he is also growing impatient over the arrival of the vaccines. Now that the President has spoken, we hope this will be fast-tracked already,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in Filipino.

Parrying criticisms of what turned out to be a premature announcement of “Valentine’s gift” of vaccines to Filipinos, Roque said the government had banked on the word of the COVAX Facility that the initial tranche of Pfizer vaccines would be ready this month.

He also cited a requirement from European manufacturers to insert an indemnification clause in vaccine purchase agreements.

Roque said the government immediately worked with Congress for the crafting of a law that would require indemnification of those who might suffer possible adverse effects of vaccines, acquired under emergency use authority. This means vaccine makers won’t be held accountable for any mishaps.

The President has certified as urgent the laws on national vaccination, which cover an indemnification clause as well as provision allowing local government units to procure their own vaccines.

“The truth is, because of limited supply, even AstraZeneca that should be delivered through COVAX Facility will arrive before the end of the month – and this will be subject to logistical challenges because of so many orders for AstraZeneca,” he said.

He also admitted that Sinovac’s donation of over half a million doses are unlikely to arrive on Feb. 23, contrary to what he had announced.

The delay would be because of a requirement in the deed of donation for an emergency use authority (EUA) for the vaccine doses.

The Food and Drug Administration has not issued EUA to Sinovac, apparently due to the Chinese firm’s failure to complete documentary requirements.

Apology

Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez Jr., for his part, apologized to the public for the delay in the arrival of vaccines and begged for patience.

“Have a little patience. I apologize because we don’t control our supply chain for the vaccines,” Galvez told ABS-CBN news.

“I hope you understand the situation of the government. We are doing everything, especially the Food and Drug Administration, so that the vaccines that will be brought here will be safe, effective,” Galvez added.

Galvez, National Task Force against COVID-19 response chief implementer, earlier said the absence of an indemnification program has delayed the delivery of 117,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech shots allocated through the COVAX facility. The government had planned to use the initial delivery to kick off its vaccination campaign.

The World Health Organization said that the Philippines has yet to sign a separate indemnity deal with Pfizer for its COVID-19 vaccine.

“Sometimes I am ashamed because as some say, everything is ready, we just lack the vaccines. Where are the vaccines? That’s the question to us. As the leading person to really procure and manage and get the best vaccine for all of us, we saw that we have lagged a bit,” he said.

He explained that only 10 countries account for about 75 percent of 190 million vaccine doses produced so far.

He also said that even Australia, which has excess vaccine orders, has yet to start its inoculation drive, while Japan has just begun its own.

He stressed the Philippines’ negotiation with the COVAX facility is ongoing.

“We are hopeful that COVAX will fulfill their commitment to bring us the 44 million doses. We should also understand them because the global vaccination is a big challenge to them,” Galvez said.

Philippine officials will visit the Serum Institute of India that will produce two to three billion vaccine doses, including 30 million Novavax shots for the Philippines, he said.

“God willing, let’s see, perhaps a vaccine will arrive this February, and majority of our vaccines might arrive in March. This is my advice to our compatriots, I hope they could have a little more patience,” Galvez said.

He also expressed confidence that Metro Manila can shift to the lowest quarantine level in March despite the reported detection in the Visayas of two mutations of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

“Even under general community quarantine, the second most relaxed quarantine level, the capital region had already opened up its economy without spikes in coronavirus infections,” Galvez said.

“I am very confident that Metro Manila can handle it,” he said. – Jose Rodel Clapano