Only vaccines cleared for emergency use will be given to Pinoys, assures Galvez

By Prince Golez

Only vaccines granted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be administered to the public, National Policy Against Covid-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said.

During the continuation of the Senate hearing on the national government’s COVID-19 vaccination program Friday, Galvez assured that the country’s selection, procurement, and administration of Covid-19 vaccines will strictly adhere to the government’s stringent protocols to ensure transparency and accountability.

“Only those vaccines endorsed by the vaccine expert panel will be purchased. Only those issued an EUA by FDA will be administered. With regard to the prices of vaccines, we also want to assure the public that the negotiations will result in the best price available given our total volumes,” he told lawmakers.

Considering the limited supplies of vaccines. Galvez said the government cannot afford to choose one or two brands of vaccines, hence the creation of vaccine portfolio.

“We have been pursuing a portfolio strategy and are negotiating with seven vaccine manufacturers,” he said, stressing that the administration is not favoring any one particular brand or country.

The seven vaccine makers are the Serum Institute of India for Novavax, AstraZeneca of U.K., Pfizer of the U.S. and Germany, Janssen J&J of the U.S. and Belgium, Moderna of the U.S., Sinovac of China, and Gamaleya of Russia.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)