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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 14) – President Rodrigo Duterte said he is working to secure more funding to ensure that all Filipinos receive a coronavirus vaccine, and that the poor, the police and the soldiers take priority.
“I already have the money for the vaccine, but hahanap pa ako ng maraming pera (but I will look for more money) because you know that now there are 130 million Filipinos and for me, ideally, everyone should have a vaccine, without exception.” Duterte said in his address to the nation Wednesday night.
The Bayanihan to Recover as One Act allocates $ 10 billion for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, while $ 2.5 billion is set aside in the proposed national budget for 2021.
Duterte reiterated that poor Filipinos will be prioritized once a vaccine is available, along with members of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“They are vital to the security of the state. They should also be the first. Tayo, kaming mga civil, pwede tayong last (We civilians can be the last) ”, he added.
But according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the vaccine must first be given to three target groups. They are front-line health and social care workers, people over the age of 65, and people with underlying conditions that put them at higher risk of death.
A director of the Department of Science and Technology previously said that the Philippines can secure vaccines for 20% of the population through COVAX, a global collaboration to accelerate the development and production of new COVID-19 diagnostics, therapies and vaccines, such as as well as ensuring equitable access to them.
The vaccines will be administered to healthcare workers and members of high-risk groups such as the sick and the elderly, said Jaime Montoya, executive director of DOST – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development.
WHO is hopeful that a vaccine against the coronavirus disease will be available by the end of the year, while Philippine officials hope to have access to it by April 2021.
Duterte has the vaccines being developed by China or Russia, and reiterates his willingness to be the first to take them amid safety concerns.
“I’m waiting for China or Russia to call me, I’d be happy to open my sleeve and move on. Because I’m confident,” Duterte said.
[Translation: I am just waiting for China or Russia to call me, I’d be glad to open up my sleeves because I have confidence in their vaccine.]Duterte also revealed Russia’s plan to build a pharmaceutical plant in the Philippines, citing his recent talk with outgoing Russian ambassador Igor A. Khovaev.
The Philippines will be part of the WHO-led Solidarity trials on potential coronavirus vaccines, which could begin at the end of the month. The government said this will be prioritized in the assignment of testing sites, but independent testing by private vaccine companies will also be included.
At least three companies from Russia, China and the United States have submitted applications to conduct a phase 3 clinical trial in the country. This is the critical stage in which thousands of patients must be inoculated with the potential vaccine. It is also usually the final step before the approval of the mass launch.
CNN Philippines’ Carolyn Bonquin contributed to this report.
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