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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 23) The pointing of fingers as to which Cabinet official “dropped the ball” and bungled the closure of the deal for early purchase of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines is affecting the public’s confidence in vaccines and trust in the government s ability to respond to the pandemic, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III warned on Wednesday.
The health chief, who is at the center of the controversy, said the importance of vaccine procurement carries the same weight as earning the public’s trust in the government s immunization program. The government is still in the process of winning the public’s participation in the government’s COVID-19 vaccination plans because of the fear caused by the controversy on anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia back in 2017.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 21) – Philippine Ambassador to the United States Babe Romualdez said the Philippines is not yet ready for the logistical challenges of handling millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses by January 2021.
Romualdez said the country s unpreparedness in the storage of vaccine doses is the silver lining to the botched deal with the American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer.
Foreign Affairs Sec. Teodoro Locsin Jr. has alleged that Health Sec. Francisco Duque III dropped the ball in securing 10 million Pfizer vaccine doses that would have been delivered to the country by January next year. Locsin said he and Romualdez led the vaccine procurement negotiations with Pfizer.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 22) – Two high-ranking government officials confirmed on Monday the Philippines will receive 30 million doses of Novavax s COVID-19 vaccine.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin Jr. said the delivery of the vaccines, made at the Serum Institute of India, will arrive in the country by July 2021. The good thing though, is that remember: This is not a rumor. This is based on a press release made by Serum Institute of India – the giant manufacturer, Locsin told CNN Philippines Pinky Webb.
COVID-19 National Task Force Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. also relayed the development to President Rodrigo Duterte, saying Serum did not request anymore for a cash advance in the Philippine government s purchase of Novavax vaccine doses.
Pompeo to try his best on Philippine bid for Pfizer vaccine Locsin
Published December 19, 2020 11:52am US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will give his best try to help the Philippines get back into the Pfizer vaccine deal after someone dropped the ball, Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr said Saturday. In a Twitter post, Secretary Locsin said he had a chat Friday night with Secretary Pompeo who, during the most serious part of their conversation, promised to try his best to help Philippine ambassador to the United States Babe Romualdez with the country s bid for Pfizer s vaccine. Great phone conversation with Mike Pompeo last night. Lotsa laughs at others. But on the most serious note I asked him to help Babe and I get back even a fraction of the 10 million doses of Pfizer after someone dropped the ball. He’ll give it his best try. Babe’s securing Moderna Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) December 19, 2020
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Locsin said in a Twitter post that he had a phone conversation with Pompeo Friday night and they were able to talk about the Pfizer vaccine deal for COVID-19.
“Great phone conversation with Mike Pompeo last night. Lotsa laughs at others. But on the most serious note I asked him to help Babe (Philippine Ambassador to the United States Babe Romualdez) and I get back even a fraction of the 10 million doses of Pfizer after someone dropped the ball,” Locsin said.
He added that Pompeo will try his best to help the country. “He’ll give it his best try. Babe’s securing Moderna,” the Justice Secretary said, adding that the ambassador is also working on the vaccine deal with Moderna.