DoH needs more funds for vaccine drive

So when we computed it all including the vaccine, the amount would reach P12.1 billion so we still lack P10.5 billion

Following the developments in the COVID-19 vaccine, the Department of Health (DoH) on Monday disclosed that it will be needing more funds to vaccinate all prioritized sectors.

This came after Marikina Second District Rep. Stella Quimbo stressed that the 2021 budget of P2.5 billion initially approved for the procurement of vaccines were too small to accommodate free vaccination for 20 percent of the population.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire estimated they will be needing around P12.1 billion for the specific groups.

As mentioned by President Rodrigo Duterte this will include healthcare workers, indigent Filipinos, senior citizens and other members of the vulnerable sector.

“So when we computed it all including the vaccine, the amount would reach P12.1 billion so we still lack P10.5 billion,” she said.

She said this was computed based on the initial costing and assumption that two doses of the vaccine per individual will be required.

Nonetheless, Vergeire assured that lawmakers have already stated that they are committed to helping the DoH acquire the additional budget needed.

Among the possible sources seen may come from loans from the Landbank of the Philippines and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) depending on what will be further discussed.

Following the developments in the COVID-19 vaccine, the Department of Health on Monday disclosed that it will be needing more funds to vaccinate all prioritized sectors.

As explained, the Philippines joining the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility will ensure access to the finalized vaccine allotted for 20 percent of the respective population of participating countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that they are targeting around next year for the first release of the initial doses.

Meanwhile, the government has also been in coordination with other countries who have expressed their intention to conduct a local trial or to supply the country with their developed vaccines.

So far, the Department of Science and Technology said that Sinovac from China was the first vaccine firm to pass the vaccine expert panel and is on its way to the ethics review board.

Russia’s Sputnik V, on the other hand, is still on its second round of document submission to the panel which comprises a review on their first two phases of the clinical trial.