Senator Christopher “Bong” Go today urged anew the Department of Health (DOH) and other concerned agencies to prepare a national coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine program in order to ensure the accessibility and affordability of the vaccine, once it is made available, even to the poorest of the poor and, most especially, to the vulnerable sectors. 

Once the vaccine and medicines for COVID-19 are available, we should be prepared to provide all Filipinos who need them, especially the poor,’’ Go, chairman of the Senate health and demography committee, said.

Go warned that difficult decisions would have to be made once a vaccine is available.

Hence, the need to already plan and anticipate possible scenarios in order to ensure that the vaccine can be accessible to those who need it the most, he said. 

  “Huwag sana pabayaan ang mga mahihirap. Paghandaan na natin ngayon palang. Magtabi na tayo ng budget para masigurong kakayanin ng gobyerno na matulungan ang mga mahihirap. Magkaroon po tayo ng plano kung saan dapat pantay-pantay at hindi lang ang mga may kaya sa buhay ang makakakuha,’’ he explained. (The poor should not be left behind. We should prepare as early as now to ensure that the government can afford to help the poor. Let’s have a plan wherein everybody will be treated equally and not only the rich can have access to .) 

In his recent speech during the virtual launch of the country’s 77th Malasakit Center in Guimaras, Go also said that preparations for the availability of the vaccine are already being discussed and developed by the country’s health officials and finance managers. 

“Nagkausap po kami ni (Finance) Secretary (Carlos)  Dominguez kahapon at gagawan na po nila ng paraan. Once available ‘yung vaccine ay handa po ‘yung gobyerno para bumili ng vaccine,’’ he said. (I have talked to Secretary Dominguez yesterday and he informed me that they’re now finding ways and means . Once the vaccine is available, the government must be ready to purchase it.)

Go stressed that once a vaccine is available, no one should be left behind when it comes to access.

President Rodrigo Duterte, in his address to the people today, appealed to the public to cooperate and trust the government as necessary measures are already being implemented while the availability of a vaccine for COVID-19 is still being studied by scientists and health experts. 

President Duterte said the Philippines would likely get COVID-19 vaccines first from China, as he noted that developments of different vaccines are also underway. 

 On distribution of vaccines once it is available, the President also reiterated, “Ang mauna 'yung walang-wala... tsaka 'yung mga nasa hospital... ‘Yung pangalawa, middle income. Libre ito, hindi ko ito ipagbili.... (The first to get it will be the poor…and those in the hospitals….comes second are the milddle income earners. This is for free. I will not sell it…)”

 Dominguez also said that the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) would help in the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines. 

Dominguez explained that the country might need to vaccinate for free a minimum of 20 million people.

“If one to two shots are needed, that is around 40 million doses and at around $10 per dose, that is $400 M or P20 billion,” according to the finance secretary who added that the economy is already beginning to recover from its lowest point last April to May.

  “Wala tayong problema sa liquidity. May pera (We have no problem in liquidity. There is money). Inflation is within target. We are the strongest currency in the region,” Dominguez added, reiterating that once the COVID-19 vaccine is available, Filipinos can most likely go back to their normal lives.