Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 27) — COVID-19 vaccines will remain free only for the poor if the state of public health emergency is lifted, according to Health Secretary Ted Herbosa.
READ: DOH chief wants COVID-19 public health emergency lifted
“The government will not buy for everyone anymore,” Herbosa said Tuesday.
“That’s why the CPR (certificate of product registration) was very important so that the private sector, those who can afford will pay, and your taxes will be used for the people who cannot afford,” he added.
On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it is granting a CPR to Pfizer’s Comirnaty Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine as a booster dose for those 12 years old and above.
Herbosa said he hopes the importation of these bivalent vaccines will happen soon.
“I’m expecting the private sector to also have the cold chain kasi ang problema lang [because the problem is], it cannot go the ordinary drug store. It will go to the same cold chain that you guys used when we were vaccinating under the EUA (emergency use authorization),” he added.
The secretary also noted that they are still negotiating with the COVAX facility for an additional 2 million doses of the bivalent shots.
