Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 6) — The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday advised the private sector to rely on the national government when it comes to the rollout of bivalent vaccines to prevent millions of doses from expiring again.
‘
“Based on the existing law of the country, the private sector can procure through the mechanisms of the national government, but we are strongly advising the private sector at this point to just rely on the national government’s procurement so that we can prevent further wastage of our vaccines,” DOH officer-in-charge Ma. Rosario Vergeire told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
‘
Currently, the country still has 26 million COVID-19 vaccines, 16 million of which are in the national warehouse, and the remaining 10 million distributed to the regions. Meanwhile, another 24 million doses have expired, she noted.
‘
Vergeire said the department is now finalizing the documentary requirements for the one million doses of donated bivalent vaccines from the COVAX facility. These are expected to arrive in the country by the end of March.
‘
Another country has also committed to donate a number of bivalent doses to the Philippines, she added.
‘
Vergeire said the government also plans to procure supply of bivalent vaccines, but this now has to go through the process stated under the Government Procurement Reform Act, since the COVID-19 state of calamity lapsed on Dec. 31, 2022.
‘
The DOH OIC did not say if there are already private companies eyeing to procure bivalent vaccines.
‘
