Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III believes that rich countries should first consider the plight of other nations before they start the discussion about booster doses of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines.

Many countries still do not have access to vaccines or do not have enough supplies of COVID-19 jabs, said Duque during the Malacanang press briefing on Tuesday, July 6.

“Ako po ay nananawagan sa United Nations, sa World Health Organization na pakiusapan ang mga mayayamang bansa na sa kasalukuyan ay pinag-uusapan na nila iyong booster dose or the third dose (I call on the United Nations, the World Health Organization to appeal to the rich countries that are already currently discussing the booster dose or the third dose),” he said.

“Tingin ko hindi tama ito dahil marami pa, malaki pa ang porsiyento ng ating mga mamamayan sa buong mundo na hindi pa nakakatanggap ni isang dose ng COVID vaccines (I don't think this is appropriate because there is still a huge percentage of our people around the world who have not received even a single dose of COVID vaccine),” he added.

Duque said that he will send a formal letter to the two international organizations regarding his concern.

“Ako po ay susulat nang pormal sa kanila para paalalahanan po ang ating mga mayayaman na bansa na huwag po nilang kalimutan naman ang mga mahihirap na mga bansa na, mag-uumpisa pa nga lang (I will formally write to them to remind the rich countries not to forget the poor nations, who were just starting their program). Many people in the world still don't even have the first vaccine,” he said.

“Kung mangyari lang po na makinig naman sila sa sentimyento ng ating low to middle income countries na kulang na kulang pa rin ang mga bakuna (If possible, they should listen to the sentiment of the low to middle income countries that still don't have enough supplies of vaccines),” he added.

Limited supply

The cause of delay in the delivery of vaccines in the Philippines can be attributed to the limited supply of vaccines globally, said country's COVID-19 testing czar Vince Dizon.

“Right now, ang laki-laki ng demand para sa bakuna sa buong mundo lalo na sa mayayamang bansa and sadly iyong bulto ng supply ay napupunta sa mga mayayamang bansa (Right now, there is a huge demand for vaccines around the world, especially in rich countries. And sadly, the bulk of supplies goes to rich countries),” said Dizon during the same briefing.

“Tayong mga hindi ganoon kayamang bansa katulad ng Pilipinas, ay medyo nahuhuli tayo sa pagkuha ng supply. Riyalidad iyan (We, who are not as rich as other countries....like the Philippines, are a bit behind in getting supplies. That is the reality),” he added.

Dizon assured the public that government officials continue to secure more vaccine supplies for the country.