Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 21) — The Department of Health (DOH) said discussions to bring bivalent COVID-19 vaccines to the country are ongoing, as legal requirements continue to hamper their arrival.
Last week, the DOH said issues concerning immunity from liability and indemnification clauses required by manufacturers and international agreements would have to be addressed first before the vaccines could be shipped to the country.
In a briefing on Tuesday, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said they have met with officials to see what remedies could be undertaken.
“We have already coordinated with the Office of the President through the ODESLA (Office of the Deputy Secretary for Legal Affairs). Nakapag-usap na rin tayo with the Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General. We have had several meetings this past week so we can find that meeting point kung ano pwede na maging option because wala nga tayong pinagbabasehan nitong naka-state sa agreement as to immunity from liability and indemnification,” she said.
[Translation: We have already coordinated with the Office of the President through the ODESLA, and we’ve also spoken with the Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General. We have had several meetings this past week so we can find that meeting point to see what option we have as we have no basis in the agreement regarding immunity from liability and indemnification.]
In January, Vergeire said the donated vaccines from the COVAX facility would arrive in the country by the end of March. In addition to these doses, she added there were countries willing to donate vaccines.
She said the Philippines continues to assure donors their vaccines would be gladly received.
“Yesterday, we had a meeting with COVAX and Gavi and we coordinated with them and still expressed our interest na tayo pa rin ay willing to receive as long as bigyan lang nila tayo ng panahon para maayos lang ang itong mga legal remedies,” she said.
[Translation: Yesterday, we had a meeting with COVAX and Gavi and we coordinated with them and still expressed our interest in receiving the vaccines as long as we are given time to fix these legal remedies.]
