Even President Duterte’s patience is wearing thin over the reported delay in the delivery of coronavirus (COVID) vaccines to the country.
The President is hoping the process will move faster so the vaccines will be delivered to the country as soon as possible, Malacañang bared Friday as the country’s vaccine orders have been bogged down by regulatory and logistical issues.
“Tatapatin ko kayo. Si Presidente ang nagsalita na. Siya mismo naiinip na,” Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said over state television Friday.
“Kinakailangan dumating na ang mga bakuna. Kaya naman siguro dahil nagsalita na nang ganyan ang Presidente eh gagalaw na nang mabilis ang lahat,” he said.
The Palace earlier announced the delivery of Chinese-made vaccines might be delayed if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would not issue an emergency use authorization (EUA) anytime soon. Around 600,000 Sinovac vaccines donated by China are supposed to arrive in the country this Feb. 23.
“Nakasaad sa deed of donation kumbaga na kinakailangan mayroon na tayong EUA bago pa man siya dumating ng 23. So kung maantala ‘yung pag-i-issue ng EUA ng FDA para sa Sinovac baka hindi makarating po yung Sinovac sa 23,” Roque said.
The initial Pfizer vaccine shots under the global COVAX facility were also expected to be delivered to the country in mid-February, but this was disrupted by pending issues related to the requirement of indemnity arrangement and cold storage facilities. The global vaccine acquisition scheme has given notice about the potential delay of the supply delivery, the Palace earlier said.
Roque explained that the “no fault” indemnification had been sought since the coronavirus vaccines would be used under an emergency basis with side effects not yet certain.
He added that Pfizer wanted an indemnity clause in the supply arrangement apparently to avoid a repeat of the Dengvaxia controversy where the drug manufacturer was dragged into a legal mess over the reported deaths linked to the dengue vaccine.
