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The Philippines will not be left behind, Malacañang has assured the public, even as rich countries continue to accumulate supplies of vaccines against the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. made the statement after it was reported that more than 90 percent of the population in the poorest countries would miss the coronavirus vaccine next year, as rich nations had already taken most of the supply.
In a virtual press conference, he assured that the country has already secured supplies from three manufacturers.
“We are not fighting. only the truth but the richest countries, monopolizing the offer. But we have a method (The truth is that the rich countries are monopolizing the supply. But we have found ways, we have no problems with that) ”, said Roque.
He added that the Philippines had closed deals with three manufacturers: Sinovac Biotech, Oxford-AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech.
He said Sinovac was still on track to be the first vaccine to be administered in the country by the first quarter of 2021. The first batch of the AztraZeneca vaccine is expected to arrive in May or June next year, while the first batch of the AztraZeneca vaccine is expected to arrive. from Pfizer. in the second or third trimester.
In terms of financing, Roque said that the government had allocated P72.5 billion for the vaccines, adding that it could easily access both the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank’s credit facilities if necessary.
The government intends to inoculate around 24.7 million Filipinos in the first part of the Covid-19 vaccination program.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DoH) has allayed public fears regarding vaccination after the UK said that some of those who had been inoculated with the Covid-19 vaccine by Pfizer and BioNTech had an allergic reaction. .
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Undersecretary of Health María Rosario Vergeire said that allergic reactions are a common side effect of vaccines, although it would have different reactions in different people.
“In all technologies, such as drugs or vaccines, side effects or allergies are common; so if you noticed, if they give you a medicine or a vaccine, the doctors will always ask you if you are allergic to something, “Vergeire said in English and Filipino.
He noted that no vaccine had achieved 100 percent protection against a specific disease, which was evidenced by his immunization program for both measles and polio.
The DoH has also continued its coordination with local government units and other stakeholders to prevent a massive increase in the number of Covid-19 cases during the Christmas season.
Vergeire told reporters that the increase is inevitable if public gatherings cannot be controlled, especially if they do not meet minimum health standards. Because of this, the Department of Health is seeking help from the Department of the Interior and Local Government to enforce health and safety protocols.
WITH REPORT FROM RED MENDOZA
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