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A woman holds a small bottle labeled with a “COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine” sticker and a medical syringe in front of the Pfizer logo shown in this illustration taken on October 30, 2020. REUTERS / Dado Ruvic / Photo archive
MANILA, Philippines – The US pharmaceutical company never promised to provide the Philippine government with 10 million doses of its 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) following the signing of a Confidential Disclosure Agreement (CDA) between the two parties, said the secretary of Health Francisco Duque III. Thursday.
Duque made the comment after Senator Panfilo Lacson claimed that the country would have secured the delivery of 10 million doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in January next year if Duque had worked on the documentary requirements necessary for the deal.
According to Duque, there were only “indicative” numbers that were mentioned during official talks between the Philippine government and Pfizer for the procurement of the vaccines.
“No, walang ganoon (there was no such thing). They were all indicative numbers. There was no definitive supply. I think that if you have the opportunity to speak with Sec. Gálvez, he would tell them that there is a problem in the production of these vaccines as we speak because it is a problem in its kanilang (because there is a problem in its) raw materials ”, he said in a interview on ABS-CBN News Channel. .
Secretary of Health Francisco Duque III (Screenshot / Senate PRIB)
He said there was nothing binding on the number of doses Pfizer would provide.
Also, there was nothing binding. Nothing in our talks. So all of this was open, exploratory, and it was actually meant to get the data from Pfizer to find out more about the safety profile of the vaccine, the efficacy, the outcome of the phase 1 and 2 clinical trials because at that time They are not finished with their phase 3 clinical trials yet, ”he explained.
“What happens is that I do not remember that there is such a definitive, that, ‘ah, we can get (we will get) 10 million doses.’ There was not any of that. Everything was indicative, ”he also said.
Duque added that Pfizer did not set a deadline for signing the CDA.
“Pfizer did not set a deadline. Nothing in all of our documents. Nothing would show that there was a deadline. “
Lacson dropped Duque’s name after Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. declared the other day that he and the Philippine Ambassador to the United States, José Manuel “Babe” Romualdez, had coordinated the delivery of the vaccines with the help of the United States Secretary of State. Mike Pompeo.
“With that said, my thanks anyway to… Pompeo. We Babe Romualdez and I got 10 million doses from Pfizer funded by the World Bank and ADB to be shipped via FedEx to Clark (airport) in January, ”Locsin tweeted.
“BUT SOMEONE DROPPED THE BALL. I have steel ball bearings. I just need a slingshot, ”he added.
Duque had previously denied that there had been any negligence on the part of the Department of Health (DOH).
He explained that it was only on September 24 that DOH was informed that, instead of the Department of Science and Technology, DOH would be the agency that would sign the deal with Pfizer.
“I have the chronology of events for all of this to be documented, and there is no such thing that I have not acted fast enough.
“What happens is that you go through a process, and when you go through a process, you can’t rush things like that. You have to be prudent and cautious, especially since you are talking about a new and novel vaccine, ”Duque said.
“Marami tayong prosecution (we have many processes). We cannot just buy vaccines like we buy a box of chocolates. There are so many logistical problems, “he added.
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