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(FILES) In this file photo taken on September 11, 2020, a lab technician handles capped vials as part of fill and pack testing for the large-scale production and supply of the University’s COVID-19 candidate vaccine from Oxford, AZD1222, performed on a High Performance Aseptic Vial Filling Line on September 11, 2020 at the Italian biologics manufacturing plant of the multinational Catalent in Anagni, southeast of Rome. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines – Rich nations have already purchased at least 80% of the future supply of COVID-19 vaccines, the Philippine vaccine czar said on Wednesday.
Carlito Gálvez, Jr., director of policy implementation for COVID-19, who is also the designated czar of vaccines, said that developing countries like the Philippines are now struggling for the remaining supply of vaccines.
“80% of the global market has been taken by rich countries. Now we are fighting for 18% because COVAX has obtained the other (2) percent ”, said Gálvez during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay online forum.
He was referring to the COVAX Facility, a global mechanism designed to ensure rapid, fair, and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines around the world that the Philippines joined in July.
The former military general explained that the deals were made possible thanks to anticipated market commitments with pharmaceutical companies.
“If we don’t meet the market commitment upfront, we will be at the end of the supply chain,” he said.
The Philippine government and private companies signed a supply agreement with British drugmaker AstraZeneca involving at least two million doses of its vaccine last week.
This is after President Rodrigo Duterte finally agreed to make commitments and advance payments to private vaccine developers to guarantee supply for the Philippines despite expressing reservations in September due to the country’s procurement laws.
Gálvez said the government is currently in negotiations with other large pharmaceutical companies for possible vaccine deals.
In addition to AstraZeneca, the government is also investigating vaccines from Sinovac Biotech of China, Gamaleya Research Institute of Russia, and Pfizer of the United States.
CFC
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