Coronavirus vaccines should be given for free especially since commercial sale of such medication is not yet allowed in the country, Malacañang announced Tuesday, May 18.

According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, vaccines purchased by the government will be distributed to target beneficiaries without any fee, while those secured by the private sector must be given to their employees.

The coronavirus vaccines currently available in the country are so far given emergency use authorization (EUA), which does not cover commercial sale and distribution.

"Well lilinawin ko lang sa panig ni Presidente, ang pangako niya ay ibigay ang mga bakuna ng libre dahil ang mga bakuna naman inaangkat ng gobyerno ay babayaran ng ating gobyerno (I would like to clarify. On the part of the President, his promise is to give the vaccines for free because the vaccines imported by the government will be paid by the government)," Roque said during a televised press briefing Tuesday, May 18.

"'Yung mga inaangkat siyempre ng pribadong sektor ay para sa kanilang gamit pero wala dapat mag benta kasi wala nga pong general use authority pa ang kahit anong bakuna (Those imported by the private sector will be for their own use but no one should sell the product because there is no general use authority for any vaccine yet)," he said.

Roque issued the statement after the Philippine Red Cross denied reports it would be selling coronavirus vaccines to the public. PRC Governor Ma. Carissa Coscolluela, in a statement, said Red Cross was not in the “business of selling any vaccines" and "does not charge for anything that it got free.”

President Duterte earlier allowed the private sector to buy vaccines "at will" to boost the country's vaccination drive and attain herd immunity.

Any private sector-led procurement however must be still be done under a tripartite deal involving the national government, the Palace later clarified.

Authorities explained the government involvement was needed since it will shoulder indemnity in case of adverse sides effects from vaccination. A law, recently signed by the President, established a P500-million indemnity fund for vaccine recipients that experience adverse side effects.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier reminded private firms against the resale of vaccines, asking them to ensure the vaccination of their workers are free “as much as possible." He also said there must be equitable distribution of the vaccines and "no privileged access."