January 21, 2021
With assistance from the private sector, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Thursday said that the government has enough cold storage facilities for COVID -19 vaccines that are expected to arrive next month.
Vergeire told GMA News’ Unang Balita that vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III inspected some of the cold storage centers yesterday.
“Kahapon po ay nag-ikot si Secretary Galvez at saka si Secretary Duque at nakita naman po nila na we have na sapat naman po (na cold storage facility) katulong ang private sector,” Vergeire said.
“We have Zuellig, we have Unilab na tutulong for their storage facilities,” she added.
PARAÑAQUE CITY, Jan. 21 (PIA) – Zuellig Pharma Chief Executive Officer Maikel Kuijpers expressed the company’s commitment to help the government in the the safe, efficient and timely distribution of COVID 19 vaccines nationwide.
The commitment was made, Wednesday, January 20, when Health Secretary Francisco Duque and National Task Force Chief Implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. conducted an ocular inspection of the cold storage facilities of Zuellig Pharma, which is among the private firms that have committed to help in the roll-out of the national vaccine program.
“We are increasing our capacity since the start of the pandemic to ensure that we are ready to receive and distribute COVID 19 vaccines from different manufacturers and with different storage requirements,” Kuijpers said.
By VIRGIL LOPEZ, GMA News
Published January 20, 2021 2:23pm President Rodrigo Duterte wondered why senators had a “war-like” demeanor when they quizzed government officials in charge of the country’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Malacañang said Wednesday. Some senators have criticized the refusal of vaccine rollout officials to disclose the negotiated prices of the vaccines and government’s supposed preference for the vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac despite claims it was less effective and more expensive. Senator Panfilo Lacson also said there could be corruption in the government’s dealings with Sinovac due to the sharp differences in the prices of the vaccine in the Philippines and in other countries.
Government officials may walk out from the Senate inquiry on the vaccination program if they are disrespected by the probing lawmakers, according to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque.
PRRD orders Galvez, Duque to answer Senate queries on vax deals | Philippine Canadian Inquirer canadianinquirer.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from canadianinquirer.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.