Beware of the Greeks when they come bearing gifts

Now that we have the coronavirus vaccine, our authorities should ensure that we implement its successful rollout. we have witnessed a series of simulation exercises in key places of our country while waiting for the delivery of the vaccines. Indeed, if practice makes perfect, then there should be no hitch in its distribution. In fact, some wisecracks have observed that our preparation is complete; the only thing lacking is the vaccine. This is now the time where the rubber meets the road. our government should be able to demonstrate that we are successfully taking the first step down the road to normalcy. Definitely, the first 600,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine will hardly make a dent in our efforts to achieve herd immunity. It is less than half a percent of our target of 140 million doses we need to immunize 70 percent of our population.

The current short supply of the vaccine is complicated by the people’s misgivings of the available vaccine. There is still a serious, lingering concern among many of our people regarding the efficacy and safety of Sinovac vaccine. This must be overcome and our government, particularly our President, must convince us that deploying Sinovac or Sinopharm is backed up by science and verifiable evidence that it is not inferior to the other brands. Despite its approval by our Food and Drug Administration, which paved the way for its delivery to the Philippines ahead of Pfizer, prospective vaccinees are not comfortable getting inoculated with Sinovac. While some hospitals like the PGH have exceeded their target number of vaccinees after its Medical Director and head of the hospital has volunteered to be vaccinated on the first day of the roll out, this was not the case in many other vaccination centers. It may be prudent to wait how our people will receive the first batch of Sinovac vaccines, which are now distributed in many parts of our country. By then we may already have the results of the post-vaccination study that is being undertaken by the relevant authorities. Such a study will validate if there are attendant risks in undertaking the vaccine shot.

It has been recently announced that the Philippines is buying 1 million doses of Sinovac by the middle of this month. This time it’s no longer free and we have already set aside P700 million (or P700 per dose) to pay for it. Moreover, we are told that we will be ordering a total of 20 million doses of coronavirus vaccines from China to support our vaccination program. That will involve a hefty sum of money although its details are not yet known to us since the financial terms of the purchase are not available. What is certain is that its purchase shall be funded by the huge loans, which contribute to our burgeoning debts. We can sleep better if China is selling its vaccines to us at cost only without any profit to them or their manufacturer. After getting the free vaccines without China asking anything in return, according to Malacañang, President Duterte promised to visit China to personally thank its paramount leader, Xi Jinping, for his benevolent gesture. The subject of geo-politics in the West Philippine Sea which is dominated by China is so complex that it is difficult to divine that giving us free vaccines roughly worth P420 million is strictly an act of pure generosity. China’s intention and self-serving actions in the region are well known and we hardly know right now what, if any, it may get in return. Maybe we should have asked in the same manner that we have demanded the US to pay us for the VFA? What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

“BEWARE of the Greeks when they come bearing gifts.” This popular proverb lifted from Aeneid was written by the famous Roman poet Virgil. It seems to apply to the pervading distrust against the Chinese vaccines. Despite China’s claim to the contrary, it is clear that the China vaccine diplomacy is clearly at play here. China has been at the forefront of providing coronavirus vaccines to developing countries. At present, over 50 countries all over the world are getting free or cheap vaccines from China to help them tide over the pandemic. China has committed more or less 500 million doses of vaccines, which is the most from any wealthy country. More than 25 countries have already inoculated their population with Sinovac and more countries are lining up.

China has reaped benefits from the pandemic. It’s successful handling of the pandemic has been a model in containing the spread of the virus. The early opening up of its businesses, which resulted in China’s economic recovery and growth, is the envy of every nation still devastated by the pandemic. Its successful vaccine diplomacy has helped ease the world’s distrust of China. Without doubt, its aggressive diplomatic initiative has gained the friendship and support of the countries still reeling from the health disaster brought about by the pandemic. It would be difficult to counter China’s outreach and countries like the US and European powerhouses are at a great disadvantage to challenge China’s political and economic inroad. China has provided the vaccine to low and middle-income nations across the world, which have been left out by wealthy countries that have cornered the vaccine supply. Even Hungary, a member of the European Union, had its Prime Minister Victor Orban get a Sinovac shot after ordering the vaccine from China. He was followed by other heads of states, like Joko Widodo of Indonesia. When the plane carrying the China-made vaccines landed in Santiago, Chile, the Chilean President, Sebastian Piñera, said: “Today is a day of joy, emotion and hope.” This pandemic has given China a tremendous chance to recast its image and earn the trust and respect of the world. It should not waste the opportunity.