Senate President Vicente Sotto III said on Wednesday, June 16, that he does not see the need to call Cabinet officials for an executive session on specific prices of COVID-19 vaccines.

Sotto was apparently satisfied with the disclosure of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III during the Senate Committee of the Whole's inquiry on the government's utilization of the ₱82.5-billion vaccine allocation and other issues related to its vaccination program.

"I think the estimate is good enough. COA (Commission on Audit) may conduct inquiries later on after procurement anyway. Besides, the banks pay directly to the pharma companies. No middlemen," the Senate leader, who led the hearing, said in a text message sent to reporters.

Asked if the Senate would still hold a closed-door meeting with officials about the the vaccine prices, he said: "Unless a member asks for it, but given the figures, I don't think its necessary at this point."

During the Senate inquiry on Tuesday, June 15, Dominguez said the costs of the coronavirus vaccines purchased by the government ranged from $6.75 to $27.59 per dose.

He also estimated that a dose could amount to ₱600, to include a ₱48 logistic cost.

Officials invoked the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that the government signed with vaccine manufacturers, saying they will only divulge specific prices of vaccine brands in an executive session with senators.

But Dominguez assured that the government's vaccine purchases are open for the COA's scrunity, as well as the international banks that loaned the funds for the procurement.

"So far so good considering the difficulties we are encountering with procurement," Sotto said of the executive department's updates on the vaccine rollout.

"But I expect improvements and adjustments on the health protocols," he, however, said.