San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan Rep. Florida Robes expressed hope that the COVID-19 nightmare would end sooner than later for Filipinos after learning that the Duterte administration had greenlit the use of the government’s P2.5-billion vaccine fund for the COVAX facility.

“We would like to commend the tireless efforts of the President and the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) to help our countrymen and find a vaccine. We are almost there I think. With these new developments, we will be able to go back to normal very soon,” said Robes, chairperson of the House Committee on People's Participation.

The COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access or COVAX facility is a global sharing mechanism for pooled procurement and equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine once they are licensed and approved.

Dr. Aleli Annie Grace Sudiacal of the Department of Health (DoH)-Bureau of International Health Cooperation updated the People's Participation panel about the planned utilization of the P2.5 billion via COVAX during a virtual hearing last week.

Sudiacal said the IATF has already identified 12 priority vulnerable groups that will get first dibs on the vaccine based on the guidelines issued by the World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (WHO-SAGE).

These are the frontline health workers from the public and private sectors, indigent senior citizens, remaining senior citizens, indigent population, and uniformed personnel. Other priority groups include teachers and school workers from public and private institutions; government workers; essential workers in agriculture; food industry; transportation, and tourism; socio-demographic groups at significantly higher risk like People Deprived of Liberty, People with Disability (PWDs), and Filipinos living in high density areas, Overseas Filipino Workers; other remaining workforce and students.

Aside from the COVAX facility participation, Sudiacal said the government is also venturing into other options like talking to three vaccine manufacturers for government to government procurement, domestic production, and or foreign donation.

The House is also doing what it can to coordinate with authorities for the smooth facilitation of vaccine distribution. 
Last September, the Robes panel held a briefing with Russian Embassy officials regarding the Sputnik V vaccine, a promising anti-COVID drug.

Vladislav Mongush of the Embassy said that Sputnik V could be available as early as the first half of 2021.

"We are ready to move as fast as possible due to the local conditions here and due to the speed of work of your Philippine scientists," he said.