Thread by @cnnphilippines

Sen. Cayetano jokes: Merong nagsasabi pag nabakunahan daw, marunong na mag-Chinese. That's a skill

Sen. Sotto suggests that DOH should consider using humor in its campaign to build vaccine confidence in the country

Senator Ping Lacson: How do you reconcile the survey results that most Filipinos are afraid of getting infected with COVID-19 but few are open to getting vaccinated?

DOH Sec. Duque: We will focus on addressing low public confidence on vaccines

cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/1/7/…

When can we expect herd immunity?

DOH Sec. Duque: The ultimate goal of President Duterte is lahat ng Pilipino, mabakunahan. Given the supply limitations, within 2021 we hope to vaccinate 70M

Vaccine czar Galvez: Given restrictions on global supply in 2021, we might have some shortfall in vaccines. Maybe we can hit herd immunity by Q1 2022

World Health Organization confirms the target of vaccinating 60-70% of the population is needed to hit herd immunity

WHO representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe says children aged 16 and below have not been vaccinated globally: They are not a priority given they are less likely to suffer adversely from the disease

DOH Sec. Duque says the top consideration for procuring COVID-19 vaccines is its safety, efficacy, and quality

WHO: The evidence now is there is continued efficacy of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for the UK variant

cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/12/2…

Sen. Pangilinan asks why vaccine czar Galvez, DOH have separate mission/vision statements for COVID-19 vaccination.

Galvez: These are 'nested' visions. The DOH is the implementing agency working under the National Task Force

Sen. Pangilinan points out that one vision targets mass vaccination by 2021, another 2022. Ano talaga ang deliverables?

Vaccine czar Galvez: The vaccine volumes are changing. If we get more, the plan is changing based on different situations in the supply chain

Vaccine czar Galvez: Dati ang target lang po natin is 35 million, but the vaccine makers are very generous. Alam nila na kapag mahirap na bansa, may special allocation tayo.

Vaccine czar Galvez: We expect most of the vaccine supply to arrive in the country in Q3-Q4 2021. Kapag nauna tayo, mawawalan ang ibang countries pero kung sila ang makakuha, tayo naman ang mawawalan.

Vaccine czar Galvez: Ngayong nadelay ang pag-grant ng emergency use approval abroad, 5 lang ang meron kaya nadelay din ang production ng ibang developers

Vaccine czar Galvez: If we are included in the COVAX facility prioritization, we will get early rollout from either Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines

Vaccine czar Galvez: We will get more or less 40 million doses, or for 20 million people, through the COVAX facility.

WHO: We have provisional agreements to roll out initial supply to countries within the first half of 2021

WHO: We are advocating to include the Philippines in the early rollout of vaccines given it is hit hard by the pandemic. Final allocation is being determined by end-January. If approved, doses may be received during the last days of January to early February

WHO: We have confirmation for early rollout with Pfizer-BioNTech. Other existing arrangements are with Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca

WHO says the number of vaccine doses may be enough to vaccinate frontliners

Does WHO still endorse vaccines which are 50% effective when Pfizer, Moderna has over 90% efficacy?

WHO: The WHO will not accept vaccines with less than 50% efficacy.

Why will we pay for a more expensive vaccine with lower efficacy rate?

Vaccine czar Galvez: Talagang major requirement ang safety and efficacy over cost, but it's also important para mas marami tayong mabibili. Pinipili natin ang mababa (ang presyo)

Vaccine czar Galvez: Our deployment of -70 degrees vaccines, which are Pfizer and Moderna, can only be done in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao due to limited capability

cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/11/2…

Finance Undersecretary Mark Joven: We have started the process of securing financing of at least $800M (about ₱38B) for vaccine purchases

DOF says they are in charge of financing, but the primarily responsible for supply negotiations is the vaccine czar and DOH

Food and Drug Administration Director General Eric Domingo says they are finalizing the emergency use application of Pfizer, will be out in 1-2 days.

For AstraZeneca, it will be out mid-January.

DOF on vaccine funding: The ₱70B fund and COVAX provision will be sufficient to buy vaccines. A separate ₱12B fund will be enough for logistical support, but faster rollout will need more funds

DOF appeals to Congress to possibly raise the funding for logistics and delivery for vaccination

Vaccine czar Galvez says removing tax and import requirements for vaccines will cause delays in rollout, cut costs of the vaccine

Vaccine czar Galvez: Additional funds are needed if we get additional supply of vaccines for distribution and logistics

Vaccine czar Galvez: We can only determine exact figures for shipment when we sign the supply agreement with vaccine makers

Vaccine czar Galvez: We negotiated on terms with the LGU, we will follow the supply agreement on how the doses will be deployed

Sen. Lacson: Why is gov't making it harder for private sector to procure vaccines? Bakit hindi na lang hayaan ang sariling negotiations? (1/2)

DOF: The price for AstraZeneca will be lower than the ₱1,200 per dose estimate earlier. We can't disclose the actual figure due to the confidentiality agreement (2/2)

Vaccine czar Galvez denies DOF delayed deals with AstraZeneca over price of doses

Vaccine czar Galvez says there's a commercial and COVAX price for vaccines, the second may go as low as $1.50 (about ₱72) per dose compared to $5 (about ₱240) per dose

Vaccine czar Galvez: Many LGUs talked to me and want to buy AstraZeneca vaccines. Considering there are limitations on procurement, we are bound by anti-corruption laws and ADB rules. We're following that

Vaccine czar Galvez: We have to be patient. Some negotiations will hit a snag.

He says PH is close to signing a deal with AstraZeneca for some 10M doses 'in the near future'

Vaccine czar Galvez says the private sector is set to sign an agreement with AstraZeneca for 10 million vaccine doses

Senator Ralph Recto: Why does national government want to monopolize the discussions, hindi na lang payagan 'yung diretso sa LGU at private sector?

FDA on vaccine approvals: It's a safety concern, it's usually a 7-year process. Emergency use means approval while in the middle of product development. The national gov't will take responsibility for these risks

FDA: We need very close monitoring when using vaccines under emergency use approval. Bawal pa ang marketing activities

Senator Cynthia Villar eggs the FDA to approve vaccine use: Bigyan na ng approval para makabili na ang mga LGUs at 'yung mga private na bilhan ang mga empleyado nito. Sa mahihirap na lang ibibigay ang bibilhin ng national gov't

Sen. Villar: Hindi naman kaya ng national gov't bayaran lahat ng bakuna. Ang private sector na willing to pay, pabayaan na

Sen. Villar: Bakit ayaw ibigay ang approval ng FDA when the vaccine has been approved elsewhere? What makes you think you are better than other regulators?

Sen. Villar: And then the economy can go on na

Sen. Villar says the economy cannot recover in 2021 if vaccines will only arrive in the third quarter of the year

The government projects a 6.5-7.5% growth rebound in 2021 following an expected contraction between 8.5-9.5% last year due to the pandemic.

cnnphilippines.com/business/2021/…

Senator Imee Marcos says LGUs are confused as to what a tripartite agreement means exactly since the government did not issue a template on vaccine deals

Sen. Marcos says LGUs are questioning the need for a tripartite agreement between LGU, national task force, and vaccine developer. Other LGUs were allowed to enter into an agreement while others weren't

Sen. Drilon: Do vaccines under emergency use approval require that only the national gov't can pursue negotiations with private suppliers?

Testing czar Vince Dizon says this is correct.

Testing czar Dizon: The only way that a private company or LGU can procure vaccines is through the national gov't

Testing czar Dizon: A private vaccine maker cannot sell on a commercial basis

What's taking so long for PH to act?

Testing czar Dizon: It's unfair to say we're taking too long

Sen. Lacson brings up the bungled Pfizer deal which was reportedly due to the failure of Sec. Duque to sign paperwork: You know how long it took us to sign the confidentiality disclosure agreement with Pfizer? 118 days.

Sen. Lacson also questions why it took 10 days for PH to reply to an offer from Sinopharm back in May 2020

Sen. Lacson says PH is just 'flirting' with vaccine makers but is not committing to a purchase deal

Sen. Lacson: Wala ba tayong sense of urgency to respond to the offer of other parties?

Testing czar Dizon: The President approved the participation of private sector in vaccine purchases

Sen. Lacson: Sec. Galvez, 'yung incompetence –– like COVID –– is infectious. If you hang around with incompetent people, mahahawa ka

Vaccine czar Galvez on Sinovac: Our timeline for the vaccine that they will give us is on time. We are very happy with the Chinese government.

Vaccine czar Galvez says DFA Sec. Locsin's claim that the Pfizer deal was bungled is not true: We are handling the negotiations.

Vaccine czar Galvez on bungled Pfizer deal: Sec. Locsin is erroneous. He doesn't know the negotiation.

Sen. Lacson: Other countries are already vaccinating. Bangladesh has several millions of doses, tayo wala pa.

Vaccine czar Galvez: You can't have a bulk of resources at one time, Israel also paused vaccinations due to a lack of supply

Vaccine czar Galvez says first vaccine delivery is scheduled on February 20 if negotiations will be successful. First inoculations may come that same week.

Sen. Lacson asked for the start of vaccine rollout

Vaccine czar Galvez eyes that vaccination rollout will start by third or fourth week of February

Vaccine czar Galvez: May mga probinsya talagang mahuhuli because they are not included in the priority geographical areas

Vaccine czar Galvez says majority of doses will be delivered by mid-year: We will brief mayors tomorrow on which brands will be given to them out of the 7 vaccines we're in talks. 4 from US, 1 from Russia, UK, China, India

Sen. Villanueva: According to Bloomberg, 24M vaccine doses have been administered abroad. Kailangan talaga nating umarangkada

Vaccine czar Galvez says as of now, PH has secured 30M vaccine doses from Novavax.

He adds there can be additional 10 million doses for local government units.

Vaccine czar Galvez: We are potentially signing a term sheet for another 60M doses within the week

Vaccine czar Galvez says that after signing a term sheet with a vaccine developer, there's a 150-day lead time before distribution and delivery

Vaccine czar Galvez asks Congress for a law that will authorize LGUs to enter into advance market commitments, make downpayments with vaccine makers to secure doses

Testing czar Dizon says there is a template for tripartite agreements of private firms and LGUs to procure vaccines

Sen. Cayetano: Why does it appear that we're so slow in procuring vaccines globally?

Vaccine czar Galvez: Because of the confidentiality agreements, we're very silent.

But Sen. Cayetano asks: Ang ibang bansa, walang NDA?

Vaccine czar Galvez: I believe the delay we might have is because the limitations of our law. Our procurement law, I think we are the only country that limits advance payments

President Duterte approved the advance payments for vaccine supply in November

cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/11/1…

Sen. Cayetano: Baka naman nahuli talaga tayo sa vaccines. We've exempted COVID-19 purchases from rigorous procurement laws.

Vaccine czar Galvez: Indonesia had a clinical trial with Sinovac, I think that's the reason. Talagang nahirapan po kami initially with the procurement law.

DOF: While the procurement rules were relaxed, we still had to comply with other requirements

Sen. Cayetano: Why do LGUs need to help in vaccine supply, funds – kulang ba ang pondo natin?

Vaccine czar Galvez: All countries have limitations. The ₱72B we have is only for 35M vaccinations, but that can expand with the help of private sector and LGUs

DOF: If we target to vaccinate 50M Filipinos in 2021, the budget is enough. But there's no liability in asking for the help of LGUs, private sector to augment this

Sen. Cayetano: How do we address confusion on who the national gov't and LGUs will vaccinate?

DOH Sec. Duque on delivery of vaccines: We are contracting a third party logistics provider. It will depend on the required temperature of storage by the vaccine we will procure

Testing czar Dizon: The NTF vaccine cluster is in discussion with Zuellig, other logistics firms for vaccine distribution.

He adds that some vaccine makers have included logistics in the supply deals for seamless distribution

Sen. Cayetano cites issues in the master list of SAP beneficiaries during the lockdown, says it could be a potential problem in the vaccination program

Vaccine czar Galvez: our priority for vaccination is 35 million Filipinos, starting with over 1 million health workers and frontliners

Vaccine czar Galvez says essential workers, such as retail workers, transportation laborers, will be vaccinated to help fast-track economic revival

Sen. Villanueva asks about possible double-counting in priority sectors for vaccination.

Vaccine czar Galvez: There will be a validation process with the LGU. He says LGUs have pledged to fund a cumulative 13 million vaccines to inoculate an additional 6M Filipinos.

DOF: We've locked in 25M doses from Sinovac with a fixed price. But we have to deal with other legal provisions.

Vaccine czar Galvez: Lahat ng vaccine manufacturers are willing to go the extra mile and provide additional supplies. Tumulong din sila sa atin on how to preserve the vaccines

Vaccine czar Galvez: Most logistics companies who have cold chain capability is in Cebu, Davao, Metro Manila. But we'll ask Pfizer how they can assist the delivery of temperature-sensitive vaccines in other areas

Vaccine czar Galvez: If we have successful negotiations this week and next week, we can lock in as much as 100M doses

Sen. Sotto says Duque, Galvez need to attend an 'emergency' Cabinet meeting at 5pm, says there might be a second hearing if not all senators are able to ask their questions

Senator Francis Tolentino asks: What's your preferred vaccine?

FDA chief: What we look at is safety and efficacy, at 'yung pagka-angkop sa Pilipinas.

Can vaccines can be mixed geographically?

FDA chief: Right now, a person must receive both doses from the same vaccine developer

What's taking FDA so long to issue a full license or authorization?

FDA: There's no company ready to apply for that yet. It should already complete all vaccine trials

WHO clarifies: None of the vaccines have been given full authorization, only emergency use

FDA: Under the procurement law, an LGU cannot buy an unregistered product or vaccine

Sen. Tolentino: Why were other Asian countries able to produce their own vaccines by partnering with foreign firms and we couldn't? Why didn't we source from them?

Sen. Lacson asks: Was there ever an instance when a Chinese firm offered to make the vaccines with a local drug maker?

DOH Sec. Duque: Sinopharm offered to do clinical trials here.

DOST Sec. Fortunato Dela Peña: Sinopharm asked to do local production here but we asked them to fund clinical trials too. Hindi na po sila sumagot after.

DOST: When we asked the Chinese side, we clarified who their local partner is but they couldn't clarify this

Sen. Tolentino asks: Do we have enough supply of syringes for the vaccination plan?

He says 3 PH companies are supplying syringes globally.

Galvez: We have 30M confirmed doses from Novavax, plus 10M from LGUs. Sinovac has committed to execute 25M doses.

Pfizer is still under negotiations.

Galvez says an executive session is needed if senators want to know the price and volume of Pfizer vaccines, but says it's 'sizeable.'

Galvez says AstraZeneca agreement may be signed Tuesday or Thursday.

Galvez says billionaire businessman Enrique Razon has pledged to help bring in Moderna vaccines.

Galvez: He says there's 144 million vaccine doses that may be secured this year.

I've never been out in the media for the past two weeks. The report yesterday came from the developer themselves.

The past two weeks was abuzz with reports surrounding the covert vaccination of PSG personnel using smuggled vaccines. bit.ly/3oCejLs

Galvez says he cannot reveal which vaccine maker will deliver on February 20, but it's one of these three: Novavax, Sinovac, AstraZeneca.

WHO says Pfizer will be available by February under the COVAX facility.

FDA: What I know is Sinovac is collating data from its foreign trials and will soon file for emergency use in PH. We haven't heard from Novavax.

Over the weekend, Novavax said it will deliver 30M doses to PH by July.

Galvez says that he will coordinate with FDA to secure emergency use approval before vaccines are delivered to PH.

Will everyone be vaccinated for free? Galvez: We will vaccinate the 18-59 year olds first. This is according to regulations, there's no vaccine trial done among minors.

Galvez: Vaccines will be given for free. That's the President's guidance.

Galvez: It is financed by the DOF, not by PhilHealth.

Galvez: LGUs' role is significant, we have given them 11 tasks already including the actual vaccination.

Galvez: This week or next week, we will visit LGUs for planning and preparations. They will do the major tasks of administration of vaccines. DILG will be very vital.

Will LGUs be given financial assistance for vaccination plans?

Duque: We will provide the poorer LGUs with certain logistical support such as syringes, safety collector boxes, face masks and shields. The vaccine is free already.

Sen. Win Gatchalian: How will we fund the vaccination program?

DOF: The vaccine purchases will be funded by ADB, World Bank with 'very cheap' borrowing rates, repayable in at least 10 years. The logistical support is separate.

Galvez says 144 million doses are likely to be secured by PH this year. Of these, 30M doses are signed from Novavax.

Galvez says PH has not yet made advance payments for vaccine supply.

Galvez: For February, we will receive 50,000 initial doses. 950,000 eventually, then additional supply later this year. We may also get the first tranche of COVAX facility early rollout within Q1.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said today that China's Sinovac will be releasing the initial doses next month.

Galvez: By April, we can vaccinate about 2 million people.

Galvez: Metro Manila will be a priority, Cebu, and Davao. Other areas with a higher attack rate will be first to receive doses.

Galvez says there will be a national rehearsal for vaccination. He says Pfizer and Sinovac will likely be the first to deliver vaccines in the country.

Galvez says majority of vaccines to be given to Metro Manila residents will be Pfizer.

Galvez: Kung nagamit niyo po ang Pfizer vaccine, hindi po pwedeng gumamit ng ibang brand para madali ang monitoring.

Sen. Recto: Why can't we let Filipinos or private firms impose their own vaccines?

FDA: Drug makers are not yet ready to sell their vaccines.
Galvez: No company can go to the private sector nor LGU because they are not authorized to do that. It's a global regulation.

DILG Usec. Epimaco Densing: Under our procurement laws, the suppliers must provide specific amount it will deliver and when exactly it will be handed over.

Sen. Recto: If you say there's a problem, we can amend the law. Let us know.

Sen. Recto: What's the downside of allowing private sector to procure their own vaccines under the emergency use? The only difference is gusto niyo, kayo lang ang bibili.

FDA: The safety and efficacy is not yet established.

Sen. Recto: At the end of the day, we're not mandating it to the user. 'Yung tao may waiver na pipirmahan naman. If the private sector can buy it faster, why not allow them?

DOF: No private company in the world is authorized to buy directly from a vaccine developer. It's a global practice.

Sen. Recto: It's possible na mababa ang willingness ng mga Filipinos to get vaccinated is natatakot sila na mababa ang efficacy rate na ibibigay sa kanila. Give the Philippines the best possible vaccines based on clinical trials –– that's my position.

Sen. Recto: Ang supply chain na gagamitin niyo, pribado rin naman. Why can't private sector do their own procurement or choice.

Sen. Drilon: We should at least authorize those domestic actors, meaning the private sector, the LGU, to be able to negotiate and not be held by this lack of authority or this circumstance or only use of emergency use authority, which is our own imposition.

Sen. Drilon: What is the downside of not granting full authority of using these vaccines?

Dizon: We absolutely agree that we need to get the partnerships of private firms, LGUs. It's only in PH where vaccine manufacturers have a facility to deal with private sector.

Sen. Drilon: Why can't we amend the regulatory rules of FDA?

FDA on allowing LGUs to directly procure vaccines from drug makers: Talagang hindi po pwede ang full registration before any regulator if we know the full side effects and long-term adverse reactions. Minimum niyan is dalawang taon.

FDA: We only allow the sale of the drugs after the full study. Ang emergency use, inaallow lang natin because of the situation. Companies will not take the responsibility for that until the full study is completed. (1/2)

Sen. Recto: Gov't is buying these vaccines and using them on our people anyway. (2/2)

FDA: Yung EUA, special po ito. Ina-allow po natin ito gamitin, kahit di pa natin siya completely naiintindihan, kasi may emergency. Hindi siya licensed drug.

Sen. Recto says private sector deals are more flexible compared to government, as they don't have to comply with public procurement laws

Sen. Villar, wife of billionaire businessman Manny Villar, points out: If you're buying vaccines through the government, the state requires you donate half to the state. Doble ang cost sa'yo.

Galvez counters Villar: It's not required.

Galvez says the donation of vaccines was a standard given by the vaccine maker to dispel the notion that only the rich can have access to the vaccines. bit.ly/35oOeI7

Sen. Drilon: Don't put a stumbling block on the private sector over issues such as safety and efficacy. We're inoculating 70M people as it is. This rule that only the national government can buy vaccines is a problem.

Dizon: I think that this was issued by FDA director general, FDA cannot give commercial authority to sell to vaccine company because it is yet to finish Phase 3 trials, kaya EUA lang ang binibigay.

Dizon: Kung merong batas na mage-exempt just for COVID-19 vaccines from selling the doses despite unfinished clinical trials, we can allow them to transact directly with LGUs, companies.

Galvez says PH gov't negotiated on behalf of vaccine makers to sell doses at cost and without profit due to the emergency use.

FDA: When we use government money, we cannot buy unregistered products.

Sen. Tolentino questions the basis of FDA's emergency use authorization ruling.

FDA says the circular is based on a Malacañang executive order.

FDA adds that the protocol for emergency use approval issued in December is necessary, or else all vaccine makers need to complete all stages of vaccine trials before it can be cleared for use here.

Sen. Migz Zubiri cites the local COVID-19 testing experience, says testing ramped up when private players were allowed to offer it: We should be able to allow private firms, LGUs to take part in the rollout of the vaccine program.

Sen. Zubiri reiterates that Bayanihan 2 provides that nothing shall prohibit private entities to conduct research, develop, manufacture, import, distribute, and sell COVID-19 vaccines sourced from registered pharmaceutical companies.

Sen. Zubiri says Russia's Gamaleya has reached out to him to help them find a way to distribute Sputnik V locally.

Sen. Zubiri: Can private firms inoculate Filipinos without waiting for government intervention?

Duque: Red Cross can be deputized by DOH to inoculate vaccines, as they have done for measles. There has to be an agreement.

Sen. Zubiri reacts to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque saying Filipinos can't choose what vaccine to take: I don't agree. The problem with the inactivated virus platform used by Sinovac is you need a younger body to fight it and trigger the response.

Sen. Zubiri: Sana po, para matulungan natin ang gobyerno, may masang Pilipino na hindi kaya bayaran ito...Dapat pumasok ang gobyerno diyan at ibigay nang libre hanggang kaya ng gobyerno.

Sen. Zubiri: I congratulate the LGUs for their initiative, but not all of them have funds for vaccines.

Duque: Hindi tayo magbibigay ng bakuna basta-basta nang hindi natin inaalam ang indications. It's also the reason for procuring different vaccines.

Duque: That's why ang policy natin dito ay diverse vaccine portfolio...Hindi lang po tayo limitado sa isang klase ng bakuna, precisely to address these limitations of individual vaccines.

Duque: We never prevented naman po ang private facilities in setting up labs, because it is within their right.

Duque: We have been in the practice of getting private hospitals and clinics to help us vaccinate.

Sen. Zubiri: I don't understand what's the difference of allowing entities to choose which vaccines to procure. You say you want everyone vaccinated.

Galvez: We hear the suggestions of private sector, but only AstraZeneca and Novavax allows the tripartite agreement. The rest are only negotiating with government.

Sen. Cayetano: What's lacking here is the sense of aggressiveness and urgency that we need to make adjustments to existing laws to allow FDA to let a vaccine to be released in public without phase 3 trials.

WHO says Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Sinovac (in Brazil), Gamaleya (in Russia) have completed phase 3 clinical trials abroad.

FDA: Sinovac is applying for emergency use this week or next week, but I think they are combining data from two foreign clinical trials.

Sen. Sotto: Why did you sign a deal for 25M doses with Sinovac when there's no emergency use application?

Galvez: That's only for them to start the logistics. It's the model of the advance market commitment. bit.ly/39izo72

Sen. Lacson: How will Sinovac deliver in February?

Galvez: They will not deliver if the EUA is not yet approved.

Galvez: We have to make sure we have the EUA for Sinovac by Feb. 10, or else the delivery of doses will be delayed. If we will not close the term sheet, that 25M doses will be gone.

Sen. Lacson: Why would you give preference to a brand (Sinovac) that has not even applied for EUA? Galvez: Actually, we told them to apply. The only problem is their clinical trial, Phase 3, they will merge the Brazil and also Turkey.

Sen. Nancy Binay: Novavax, which has a 30-40M pledge, has also not applied for emergency use. AstraZeneca, which has already sought EUA, only has up to 30M pledges.

Galvez: The 7 vaccine makers we are talking with, they already have EUA in their home country. It's our assurance that the one we are negotiating with have been tested and rolled out elsewhere.

Sen. Drilon says he got more confused than enlightened on the vaccination program during the Senate hearing.

Sen. Drilon: Why is the national government imposing this rule of emergency authorization, which is effectively a monopoly?

FDA: Hindi pa po full ang development ng vaccines. For Pfizer and Moderna, they are using a new technology called mRNA. We can't fully roll out in the market.

Sen. Drilon: Why can't LGUs and private sector handle the purchases?

FDA: We have to watch closely the inoculation. Kapag pinabayaan ang kanya-kanyang bili, baka sumobra ang supply o bilin lahat ng mayamang LGU.

FDA: It's safe and effective in the context of this emergency. So hindi pa po full ang development ng product...Itong pong mRNA vaccine was never been used to humans before. So kapag ni-rollout natin siya, babantayan natin siya very closely.

Sen. Drilon: Kung sino ang gustong gumamit o bumili, dapat payagan. The monopoly of government in securing vaccine supply is unacceptable.

Sen. Drilon: We should allow every sector to have access to this. If the manufacturer does not want to sell to the non- national government agencies, that is the decision that they make.

Sen. Drilon: But let us not stand on the way of the private sectors and LGUs to purchase vaccines for their own use.

Sen. Villar also wants to allow private sector to be allowed to buy their own vaccine supplies.

Sen. Pangilinan: I think the FDA wants to monitor the inoculation of these vaccines. There can be a reporting requirement. Strengthen your regulation but don't limit entities from acquiring the vaccines.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros: Kung EUA din lang naman ang ating standard, dapat may equal application 'yan ng national government. HindI yung may hindi pa naga-apply for EUA, ay may naka-parked na na kontrata.

Duque says that there are 4,512 vaccination sites. In each site, he says 300 individuals can be vaccinated daily.

Duque: Policy wise, ang bawat babakunahan, papasok 'yan sa ating database...Meron din pong nakalagay na advisory dun na bantayan kung may adverse effect after vaccination and next schedule for the second dose. So kumpleto na po yung sistema.

Duque says DOH it is coordinating with the DICT to further enhance the system for the database management of the vaccination program.

DOH says that the simulation for the COVID-19 vaccination will be done in Pasig City first: This is going to be on third week of January.

Duque on the simulation: This is going to be an exercise in simulation. Not necessarily giving the vaccines already.

Dizon: The agreements signed by the LGUs with AstraZeneca are not part of the COVAX facility. Yung COVAX facility will be direct to the national government.

Dizon says that barangay health workers will also be prioritized in the vaccination program.

Sen. Imee Marcos: Are you going to give sanctions to anyone who will be inoculated with or import unregistered vaccines? FDA: Opo, yung pag-import and pag-distribute ng unregistered products.

FDA says it is working with the Bureau of Customs and the NBI to monitor possible smuggling of unregistered vaccines.

FDA: As of now po, lahat ng vaccines na naga-apply ng EUA, ang kanila pong target ay 16 years old and older. Kapag nakita na po ang safety sa adults, nagsta-start na po sila gawin yung trials sa mga bata. Baka maaring end of the year, pwede na po sa bata.

Based on DOH's computation, Dizon says that herd immunity is achieved when 65% to 70% of the entire population is vaccinated.

FDA: Vaccination is just one of the strategies to end this pandemic. Marami pa po tayong ginagawa....We cannot categorically say na pag nabakunahan na yung 70% ay yun na 'yun.

FDA: Ayun po ang advantage ng national government po yung nagpo-procure, kasi mapo-protektahan ng national government ang mga local governments. Siya po yung nagte-take ng responsibility on the investigation of the product that will be used. (1/2)

FDA: Kapag LGU ang diretsyo bumili, siya na po ang mananagot. (2/2)

FDA: Actually, malaking tulong po sa LGU and sa private company kung through DOH po sila bibili, kasi nandun yung mantle of protection of the DOH taking responsibility over the use of a product that is not yet fully developed.

DOF Usec. Mark Joven: For vaccination, our go-to financing will be multilateral. We don't want our decisions to be affected by who the lenders are. We want access on financing to be separate from the issue on the choice of product.

Dizon on the vaccines from COVAX facility: As to the timing po of the delivery, we have received a very recent information, the COVAX facility will be delivering earlier than expected, I think within the first quarter, it could be as early as February.

Dizon says they have yet to get details on the date, the quantity of delivery, and what vaccine will be delivered by the COVAX facility.

Sen. Richard Gordon asks why the government was late in procuring vaccines.

Dizon: Hindi naman po siguro nahuli, dahil nung unang-una pa lang po na-appoint si Sec. Galvez as vaccine czar, immediately nakipagusap na po siya sa mga vaccine companies. (1/2)

Dizon: Pero yung mga finalization po ng ating mga agreements sa kanila ay nangyayari na po ngayong buwan ng January. (2/2)

Sen. Gordon: Hindi kaya pinagbibigyan natin yung isa bansa diyan na gusto magbili sa atin? Pero medyo nakaantala yun sa atin dahil umaasa tayo na mabibigyan tayo ng libre.

Dizon: Hindi po yun ang rason. Wala po tayong policy na pinapaboran ang isang vaccine o isang bansa. Lahat po ng vaccines na safe and effective ay ipu-pursue ng national government, vaccine czar, at vaccine cluster.

Senate President Sotto says the hearing on the government's COVID-19 vaccine program will resume on Friday at 10 a.m.