Risa to admin: Don’t let ‘political favors’ with China affect vaccine procurement

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday urged the government to “steer clear of political agendas” in procuring Covid-19 vaccines, including political favors from countries like China.

“Let’s make it clear: The vaccine is a health solution, not a political favor. We should buy vaccines to protect our people from Covid-19. Not to advance anyone’s political agenda,” she said.

Hontiveros issued the statement after experts raised questions on the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine produced by Chinese pharmaceutical Sinovac, which government entered a deal with recently for 25 million doses for roll-out in the first quarter of 2021.

The senator said that the Sinovac vaccine has yet to undergo assessment by the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

She added that there is “no problem if the Chinese vaccine is safe, effective and cheap” but the domestic agencies need to “back it up with scientific proof before we make any commitments.” “This stands for any and all possible vaccines. No shortcuts,” she said.

“Before we declare preference of any vaccine, I remind government that the first and only priority should be safety,” Hontiveros said.

“Bago subukan, dapat safe at walang malubhang side effect ang bakuna na ituturok sa ilang milyong Pinoy. Bawat health standard at safety step ay dapat sundan. Hindi ito dapat madaliin,” she said.

Hontiveros pointed out that the Sinovac vaccine is one of the most expensive available in the market at P3,629.50 in the Department of Health’s (DOH) projection of prices. “So if it hasn’t been proven to be safe, and it isn’t even cheap, what is the basis for our preference for this vaccine?” she asked.

The senator also warned against China’s ‘vaccine diplomacy,’ citing leading research center Yusof Ishak Institute findings that the vaccine supply is “not unconditional” and that it could be used as a tool to advance the country’s interest in the West Philippine Sea.

“Hindi tayo dapat basta-basta bibili ng bakuna. Do not sacrifice Filipinos’ health on the altar of the President’s bias towards China, which has continuously denied the Hague ruling and abused our waters,” she said.

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