PH could buy Swedish firm’s COVID-19 vaccine at half price – Manila Bulletin

The Philippines could buy the AstraZeneca vaccine for just $ 2.50 per dose, half the price previously announced by government negotiators.

Senator Imee R. Marcos, chair of the Senate economic affairs committee, revealed that the Swedish pharmaceutical company and the University of Oxford have already decided to sell their vaccine at the cost and for as long as less developed countries need.

Marcos noted that the government, local corporate donors and AstraZeneca signed a purchase agreement to purchase 2.6 million doses of the vaccine for about P600 million, or about $ 5 per dose.

Marcos added that subsequent purchases of the same vaccine should cost less because the Philippines is also among the 92 low- and lower-middle-income countries that will benefit from vaccines funded by international donors under the global initiative known as the COVAX Advance Market Commitment facility. .

The COVAX AMC aims to keep vaccine prices at no more than $ 3 per dose, through the efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, and vaccine manufacturing countries, so that the poorest nations can get affordable and fair access to Vaccines for COVID-19.

“With a budget of P600 million, the government should be able to buy not just 2.6 million doses, but at least five million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. At $ 5, every Filipino vaccinated should be able to complete the two prescribed doses, not just half, ”Marcos said.

Marcos cited the Oxford statement issued last week, which in part reads: “A key element of Oxford’s partnership with AstraZeneca is the joint commitment to provide the vaccine on a non-profit basis for the duration of the pandemic worldwide now. perpetuity to low- and middle-income countries. “

Marcos added that AstraZeneca has a local presence and has several manufacturing sites in China, which would reduce the cost of shipping the company’s vaccines to the Philippines.

The cost of cold chain storage of the vaccine would also be minimal, since only refrigeration of two to eight degrees Celsius is needed, Marcos said as well.