Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 4) — As more local government units set aside funds to purchase their own supply of COVID-19 vaccines, the Department of Health on Monday said only the national government can benefit from the emergency use authorization (EUA) that will be issued by the country’s Food and Drug Administration.
Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said a vaccine needs to secure a certificate of product registration (CPR) before local government units can independently procure from the manufacturers. The Food and Drug Administration is only issuing EUAs for now as COVID-19 vaccines are still completing development phase.
“Ang pwede pa lang bumili ay national government kasi EUA pa lang siya. Hindi pa mabibigyan ang mga bakunang ito ng CPR kasi hindi pa talaga technically tapos ang kanilang clinical trials. Hanggang trial 3 pa lang ang mga ‘yan,” she said in a media briefing.
[Translation: Only the national government can buy vaccines since FDA is only issuing EUA. These vaccines cannot be given CPR yet since their clinical trials are not yet technically completed. They are still on Phase 3 trials.]
DOH encouraged local government units to work with the national government instead, adding their department is heading the national vaccination program against COVID-19.
“Ang local governments ay hinihikayat ng national government to work with us because we can pool the funds and the national government can procure and we can have an effective distribution system… We can assure the local government that based on the prioritization list, kasama kayo lahat sa ating listahan,” Vergeire assured local chief executives.
[Translation: Local governments are urged by the national government to work with us. We can assure the local government that based on the prioritization list, you are included.]
Makati City announced all of its residents will receive free COVID-19 vaccines as the local government allocates P1 billion once a COVID-19 vaccine is approved for use in the country. The city governments of Parañaque, Pasig, and Valenzuela are also setting aside initial amounts to cover the first rounds of inoculation for their constituents. The City of Manila also opened its online registration for free immunization.
The government aims to vaccinate at least 60 million Filipinos in the next three to five years. Malacañang said the ₱72.5 billion set for COVID-19 vaccines in the ratified 2021 national budget is more than enough to purchase the necessary doses, especially since the Philippines may acquire it through loans.
