While the Department of Health appreciates the effort of local government units (LGUs) in securing vaccines against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), it said that LGUs cannot procure and roll out a vaccination program on their own without coordinating with the national government.

In a joint statement, the Department of Health (DOH), the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that local government units (LGUs) “cannot procure and roll out COVID-19 vaccines on their own.”

“This must be coordinated with the national government, through the NTF and the DOH in a tripartite agreement involving local governments and pharmaceutical companies,” the Health department said.

“This is meant to align the efforts of LGUs with the vaccine initiative of the national government which integrates and consolidates all resources and initiatives,” it added.

The FDA clarified that the emergency use authorization issued by the Philippine FDA does not cover the commercial use of the vaccines.

“This means that manufacturers cannot sell directly to the LGUs nor to any entity, unless they are under the vaccine initiative of the national government,” it said.

The Health department said it recognizes the equity issues raised on the distribution of the vaccine. "We assure the public that the national government adheres to the principle of equity where delivery of services are biased towards the vulnerable and the disadvantaged.”