After telling ordinary Filipinos not to be choosy in their COVID-19 vaccines, the government should apply the same line in expediting the procurement of all qualified and available vaccines, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Wednesday.
Lacson, chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, noted the availability of only Sinovac until June, as well as the replies of officials in Monday's Senate Committee of the Whole (COW) public hearing indicating China-based Sinovac is the "chosen one."
"Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr.'s reply that they will advise Sinovac to apply for an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) – after concluding a contract with it – only made it obvious that Sinovac is really the chosen one," he said.
"Can somebody explain why preference is given to the second most expensive vaccine, has lower efficacy, a record of suspended clinical trials, and has not even applied for EUA over other vaccines that cost much less, more efficacious, and are about to be granted their Emergency Use Authorization (EUAs)?" he asked.
"That said, the national government should expedite the procurement of all qualified and available vaccines. To borrow Secretary Harry Roque Jr.'s words, it should not be choosy in buying vaccines," he added.
Lacson pointed out Sinovac has a five-month headway over other brands from February to June even without applying for an EUA even as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claimed this is due to the suspension of clinical trials in another jurisdiction.
He also questioned why Sinovac, a privately-owned Chinese company whose product's efficacy is at 50 to 70 percent, appears to have the edge even over China's State-owned Sinopharm, whose vaccine has a 79 to 86 percent efficacy and is used in the United Arab Emirates.
Sinovac is also the second most expensive vaccine at P3,629 per two doses, he noted.
Worse, he said, Sinovac has a record of suspended clinical trials, even as FDA Director General Eric Domingo said it has not even applied yet for an EUA over other vaccines that "are a lot cheaper, more efficacious, and are already awaiting issuance of their EUAs from the FDA."
On the other hand, Lacson noted that in Monday's hearing, officials seemed prepared with justifications for favoring Sinovac, including “taking different pathways,” “the Philippines may be at the tail-end of the supply chain,” and even saying they "will advise Sinovac to apply for EUA” after being asked why government had concluded a deal with it even without the EUA.