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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOH: All Filipinos will have 'equitable access' to COVID-19 vaccines

DOH: All Filipinos will have 'equitable access' to COVID-19 vaccines

Published Mar 21, 2021 07:22 pm

The Department of Health (DOH) reaffirmed the national government’s commitment in providing “all Filipinos equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines following the prioritization criteria and list approved by the Inter-Agency Task on Emerging Infectious Diseases.”

Department of Health (DOH) (MANILA BULLETIN)
Department of Health (DOH) (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

The DOH made the statement after the circulation of an “unofficial draft” of the department’s administrative order that outlines “some selected sections of the draft Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11525 or the COVID-19 Vaccination Law.”

“The development of the IRR is guided by the principles of equal respect, national equity and legitimacy, found in the WHO SAGE (World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of Expert)  Values Framework,” the DOH said in a statement on Sunday, March 21.

“Any provisions that may be perceived to discriminate against any sector of the population from accessing COVID-19 vaccines is not considered in any policy, guideline, protocol that shall be issued by this government,” it added. 

The DOH said that the contents of the “draft IRR were based on recommendations coming from different stakeholders.”

“The DOH together with the government agencies composing the Vaccine Cluster of the National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF), as provided for by the law, are still in the process of reconciling the proposed provisions with other existing laws and guidelines,” it said. 

“The National Government commits to honor the multiparty agreement among DOH, NTF, vaccine manufacturers, and other procuring entities like the private companies and LGUs (local government units). All comments and recommendations from different stakeholders are still welcome until the finalization and approval of the IRR,” it added. 

Some senators on Saturday, March 20, hit the supposed draft administrative order that blocks manufacturers of tobacco, sugar, breastmilk substitute, among others,  to import COVID-19 vaccines for their employees. 

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