MANILA – The government’s vaccine procurement negotiating team is working to obtain reformulated booster vaccines that are suggested to combat developing coronavirus variants.
According to National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.’s report to President Rodrigo Duterte over the weekend, next-generation booster shots will extend the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine.
“We are now negotiating for next year as directed by (Department of Finance) Secretary (Carlos) Dominguez with four manufacturers for the introduction of a reformulated booster,” Galvez said during Friday’s Cabinet meeting and Talk to the People that was aired on Saturday morning.
Galvez previously revealed that the government has reached preliminary agreements with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank for the second wave of vaccine purchase.
A budget of USD45 million (about PHP2.2 billion) has been set up for the 2022 supply, which will be determined by the vaccine experts panel’s recommendations.
Galvez also anticipates a shift in procurement strategies, since some vaccine manufacturers may no longer allow multi-party agreements (MPA) to secure Covid-19 vaccines.
“Maybe other brands in the future will change our procurement strategies kasi ‘yung mga ating ano ating mga LGU (local government units) at saka mga private sector, puwede na pong dumiretso. Wala na po tayo magiging MPA (because the LGUs and private sector could purchase directly. We don’t have MPA anymore),” he said.
What is definite, according to Galvez, is a recalibration of jab deployment across the country.
“We are recalibrating our Focus and Expand strategy and giving more allocation now to Region 4-A, and then Region 3, Region 7, Region 6, Region 10, Region 11, and other surge areas as directed by the President,” he said.
The vaccine czar also demanded that minimum health requirements be strictly followed.
“They said vaccine alone cannot stop Delta and we need to increase prevention strategy: the effective masking, the ventilation, and massive vaccination,” Galvez said.
