The Philippine government could no longer yield to any further demands that COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers would make following the passage of a law on establishing the indemnity fund.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government takes pride of the enactment of the new law after heeding the vaccine suppliers' requirements prior to the delivery of the preventive drug.
The delivery of the vaccine supply under the COVAX facility to the country has been delayed after some manufacturers reportedly sought legal protection from possible lawsuit in case of complications from vaccine use.
Such indemnity requirement prompted the government to rush the passage of a measure providing for a P500-million fund to compensate people if they suffer complications from the use of the coronavirus vaccine. The measure, which also hastens the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines, was signed into law by President Duterte Friday, Feb. 26.
"Malinaw po ang posisyon ng ating Presidente ‘no. Iyong ating batas po na pinasa ng Kongreso, iyan po ay nagbibigay na ng lahat ng hinihingi ng ating mga vaccine manufacturers (The President's position is clear. The law passed by Congress gives everything the vaccine manufacturers asked for)," Roque said during a televised press conference at the vaccine rollout held at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila Monday, March 1.
"We’re very proud of that law but we cannot give anymore because binigyan na nga po natin (a)ng lahat ng gusto ng mga pharmaceuticals (we have given everything what the pharmaceuticals wanted)," he added.
With the signing of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, Roque said they expect the vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech under the global vaccine scene would arrive in the country soon.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the first batch of these Pfizer jabs may arrive in the country by the second quarter of the year.
The government earlier announced the 117,000 Pfizer doses were expected to be delivered in mid-February but its delivery was hampered by indemnity requirements. The indemnity pact has reportedly been submitted by the government for the Pfizer vaccines.
"Pero kung talagang hindi po sapat ang batas natin, we have done the best that we could at si Secretary Galvez po, sinisigurado naman that we will have enough vaccines for all Filipinos na pinangako po ng ating Presidente (But if our law will not be enough, we have done our best that we could and Secretary Galvez has assured that we will have enough vaccines for all Filipinos promised by the President)," Roque said.
In a meeting with President Duterte last week, Galvez revealed that some vaccine makers wanted “blanket immunity" from lawsuits for their products.
Galvez, said, however, that the government would not waive full immunity against liability of the manufacturers in case of "malpractices and willful neglect,” citing the State's obligation to protect the welfare of the people. He also emphasized there must be observance of "good manufacturing practices” particularly to ensure that their vaccines are safe and effective.