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Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. revealed on Saturday that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will do his “best try” to help the Philippines get even “a fraction” of the deal from the US. Pfizer vaccine after top Philippine diplomat reported that “someone dropped the ball” during negotiations.
The Locsin revelation comes as Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the country’s vaccine czar and the top enforcer of the National Covid-19 Task Force, reiterated Friday night that “no bus was missed” o “No ball was dropped” as the government focused on its goal of ensuring a “fair share of vaccines.”
Senator Panfilo Lacson thinks otherwise when he asked the vaccine czar “not to defend the indefensible.”
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go called for a nationwide approach to ending the pandemic, while AKO-Bicol party roster representative Alfredo Garbin Jr. urged the Interagency Task Force to Manage Emerging Infectious Diseases to release details of government transactions on the vaccine to the public to ensure transparency.
In his Twitter post, Locsin said he had a phone conversation with Pompeo on Friday night and broached the subject of Pfizer’s vaccine deal for the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
“Great phone conversation with Mike Pompeo last night. Lotsa laughs at the others. But on the most serious note, I asked him to help Babe (the Philippine Ambassador to the United States, José Manuel Romualdez) and recovered even a fraction of the 10 million doses of Pfizer after someone dropped the ball, ”he said. Locsin.
He stressed that the US Secretary of State “will do his best.”
Locsin added that the Philippine ambassador to the United States was also working on the vaccine agreement with Moderna.
Locsin previously revealed on Twitter that he and Romualdez secured “10 million doses of vaccine from Pfizer” to be funded by “the World Bank and Asian Development Bank and” shipped via FedEx to Clark. [Air Base] in January. But someone dropped the ball. “
‘Help Duque do his job’
Although Locsin did not mention names, Lacson, who met with the two officials, pointed out to Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd, who later denied that the process for Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine was hampered due to failure to comply with the confidentiality required. Disclosure Agreement (CDA).
In a statement Saturday, Lacson urged the Cabinet to help Duque do his job rather than defend him.
“This time, I hope that Secretary Duque is alert, and I hope that the members of the cabinet will help him move faster rather than defend him through statements to the media,” Lacson said.
He noted that Duque had asked Gálvez and other members of the cabinet to defend him in the media, noting that the health secretary was “practically frantic” in doing so.
“Please don’t defend the indefensible,” Lacson warned Gálvez, noting that President Rodrigo Duterte had told Duque to explain himself.
“This is also not a question of a ‘mission impossible’ to get vaccines by January. The problem is Duque’s negligence that more efficient bureaucracies like Singapore are giving us vaccines, ”he added.
Regarding Duque’s claim that he was a precautionary mistake in signing the CDA late, Lacson said: “Caution, my foot. 118 days to sign a simple CDA, between June and October? “
Go, who chairs the Senate’s health and demographics committee, also seriously called on his fellow public servants to remain united and focused on dealing with the real enemy, which is the Covid-19 pandemic.
Go also asked Duque to exercise responsibility by explaining his actions regarding the accusations made against him.
President Duterte and Go have expressed their willingness to be one of the first to receive a dose of the vaccine to encourage the public and allay fears about its safety and efficacy.
Go told concerned officials to act swiftly while exercising due diligence to ensure the availability of safe and effective vaccines for Filipinos, especially the poor and vulnerable sectors that must be prioritized.
Without ‘fallen balls’ – Gálvez
Gálvez said that the country was still on the right track in the acquisition of vaccines and assured that the process will be transparent and responsible.
In a statement to reporters late Friday, Gálvez said, however, that negotiations to obtain the vaccine would come to a standstill when potential legal challenges, public interest and public safety are at stake.
“Let me reiterate, no ‘bus’ was missed or no ‘ball’ was dropped because we are focused on our main goal, which is to ensure a fair share of vaccines,” said Gálvez.
He said the vaccine selection process would be based on “safety, efficacy, cost effectiveness, the vaccine manufacturer’s track record, after-sales service, early production and delivery capabilities, and long-term commitment.”
Gálvez said the Philippines will use its multilateral agreements with the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and other global lenders through the Department of Finance (DoF).
He said multilateral lenders would not allow “kickbacks” on vaccination funds.
“We know the integrity of the Secretary of Finance [Carlos Dominguez 3rd] there, even contracts that are not good, he fixes them (I know the integrity of the Secretary of the Treasury, even contracts that are not so good, he fixes them) ”, said Gálvez during the Laging Handa briefing on Saturday.
Gálvez’s pronouncements were echoed by the Undersecretary of Health, María Rosario Vergeire, who assured the public of the transparency of the vaccine procurement process.
The DoF has allocated P 73 to 75 billion for the inoculation of 60 to 80 million Filipinos to achieve the World Health Organization standard for the herd immunity of at least 60 to 80 percent of the population.
He added that payments for the vaccines would only be made once all regulatory requirements for emergency use authorization or USA have been secured from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the country of origin.
Regarding the prices of the vaccines that were shown to the media, Gálvez said that these are not the negotiated prices given by the companies, but the commercial prices.
Gálvez confirmed that Romualdez has spoken with Moderna about a possible assignment for the Philippines, with a meeting with the US pharmacist early next week. Pfizer will sign an agreement with the Philippine government within the month or the first week of January once a final allocation is determined.
Full disclosure
Garbin cited “the historical and crucial importance of the decisions on the choice of Covid-19 vaccines and other details of the vaccination plan,” so “it is just that we in Congress remind the IATF Vaccination Working Group the need for complete and timely transparency. “
Garbin, vice chairman of the House Justice Committee and attorney, emphasized the need to inform the public “every step of the way with full disclosure.”
He said that among the details that must be disclosed are the characteristics of each Covid-19 vaccine such as its formulation, ingredients, vaccine development techniques, efficacy in clinical trials, side effects, benefits, limitations in terms of patient detection, storage, temperature control. and costs. He said that the explanation of all scientific, economic, legal and logistical facts should also be shared.
Garbin added that all documents must be made public immediately, including “draft contracts, signed contracts, terms of reference, meeting minutes, and all documents directly or indirectly related to any Covid-19 vaccine transaction produced or emanating from any government office”. “
The legislator said the FDA must also request all supporting documentation on all phases of clinical trials and analysis from health authorities in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom that used to decide to approve the vaccines.
Garbin also asked the Anti-Money Laundering Council and all banks to be vigilant against any suspicious and unusual money transfers related to Covid-19 vaccines.
with RED MENDOZA and DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ
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