Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. in a Senate hearing explained why other countries may get COVID-19 vaccines from China’s Sinovac at a cheaper price.
According to him, this is because other nations have agreed to cost-reducing conditions such as producing the vaccine shots themselves using materials from the company.
While the Philippines was offered cheaper rates under certain terms, this meant that the vaccines will have to be finished here.
“Inofferan din kami, mababa ‘yung presyo but you will be having the filling station o ibig sabihin ‘yungraw materials dadalhin sa atin, tayong magfifinish,” he said.
Cheaper rates will also be offered if the government is to claim the vaccines directly from the company’s manufacturing plant instead of having them ship the supply to the country.
Galvez remained mum on the exact negotiated cost for the Sinovac doses but he assured the public that the country is at an “advantage.” He said the basis for negotiation is “sense of fairness,” or making sure the Philippines will get rates close to that of other Southeast Asian nations.
