‘Equitable access’ sa COVID-19 vaccines para sa lahat ng Pilipino

MULING inihayag ng Department of Health (DOH) ang pangako ng nasyunal na pamahalaan sa pagkakaloob sa lahat ng Pilipino ng “equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines” kasunod ng prioritization criteria at listahan na inaprubahan ng Inter-Agency Task on Emerging Infectious Diseases.”

Inilabas ng DOH ang pahayag matapos kumalat ang isang “unofficial draft” ng administrative order ng ahensiya na bumabalangkas ng “some selected sections of the draft Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11525 or the COVID-19 Vaccination Law.”

“The development of the IRR is guided by the principles of equal respect, national equity and legitimacy, found in the WHO SAGE (World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of Expert) Values Framework,” paliwanag ng DOH nitong Linggo, Marso 21.

“Any provisions that may be perceived to discriminate against any sector of the population from accessing COVID-19 vaccines is not considered in any policy, guideline, protocol that shall be issued by this government,” dagdag pa ng ahensiya.

Ayon sa DOH, ang nilalaman ng draft IRR ay base sa mga rekomendasyon na nagmula sa iba’t ibang stakeholders.

“The DOH together with the government agencies composing the Vaccine Cluster of the National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF), as provided for by the law, are still in the process of reconciling the proposed provisions with other existing laws and guidelines,” giit pa ng DOH.

“The National Government commits to honor the multiparty agreement among DOH, NTF, vaccine manufacturers, and other procuring entities like the private companies and LGUs (local government units). All comments and recommendations from different stakeholders are still welcome until the finalization and approval of the IRR,” dagdag pa.

Binatikos ng ilang senador nitong Sabado, ang kumalat na draft administrative order na naghaharang sa mga manufacturers ng tobacco, asukal, breastmilk substitute, at iba, na makapag-angkat ng COVID-19 vaccines para sa kanilang mga empleyado.