By ERWIN COLCOL, GMA News
Published February 11, 2021 6:12pm The measure seeking to allow local government units (LGU) to speed up procurement of COVID-19 vaccines will only cause a maldistribution of vaccines based on capacity to pay, the spokesperson for an alliance of healthcare professionals said Thursday. During a Senate hearing, Dr. Antonio Dans of the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 expressed his opposition to Senate Bill 2042. The measure will serve as a legal cover allowing LGUs to expedite their procurement of COVID-19 vaccines by exempting them from provisions under the Government Procurement Reform Act. If local government units and private entities have the funds to procure vaccines for their constituents and employees, and the manufacturers are willing to deal with them, then let us give them the authority to do so, said Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, who sponsors the measure.
Healthcare professionals on Monday urged the public, especially the private sector, to follow the government’s prioritization list for the rollout of coronavirus vaccines to ensure the protection of the most vulnerable groups.
The Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC) said government officials should serve as good examples in shunning coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines from the black market.
Published January 18, 2021, 5:14 PM
Filipinos will be provided with the “best vaccines at the most ideal prices,” the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday, clarifying reports on the vaccine prices presented by the Senate.
The Health department made this declaration after the recent circulation of information regarding coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine prices reported by the Senate to have come from the DOH during the deliberations of the 2021 proposed national budget.
“The DOH clarifies that the said vaccine prices were indicative market prices based on the rates published by different manufacturers generated for the purpose of estimating the proposed budget for the vaccination program,” the department said.
“May posibilidad po dahil mas nakakahawa itong new variant, mas madaming magkakasakit. Pero kung hindi naman po sila magpapa-hospital dahil mild lang iyan ay may posibilidad na hindi rin po magbabago ang quarantine classification,” Roque said. “Tingnan na lang po natin ang pangyayari, pero sa ngayon po, patuloy po ang panawagan ng ating Presidente: mask, hugas at iwas.”