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Undersecretary of Health Rosette Vergeire. RTVM video screenshot.
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) has asked local government units to work with the national government to ensure an “effective distribution system” for COVID-19 vaccines once they are available in the country.
DOH issued the call on Monday when local governments in Metro Manila announced the allocation of funds to provide COVID-19 vaccines for their constituents.
“Local governments are asking the national government to work with us because we can pool the funds and the national government can acquire and we can have an effective distribution system,” said the Undersecretary of Health, María Rosario Vergeire, in an online forum.
Vergeire noted that only the national government can purchase vaccines issued with an emergency use authorization (USA) from the Food and Drug Administration.
Vaccines can only be commercially available if a product registration certificate (CPR) is obtained, he added.
The EUA is issued for unregistered drugs and vaccines in a public health emergency such as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It will only be valid for the duration of the declared public health emergency or after the issuance of a full market authorization or CPR.
“We have to remember that the national immunization program is based on the mandate of DOH, so hopefully local governments will be able to work with us. Try to work with us so we can have a more effective vaccination implementation implementation, ”he said.
Vergeire assured that local governments will be included in the list of those who will receive COVID-19 vaccines.
JPV
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For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
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