Despite their P5.1-billion worth of Covid-19 vaccines going to waste, the private sector still expressed willingness to pitch for the procurement of the vaccines, but said this will now depend on the government’s decision, Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion said.
“Ideally, we will still make a pitch in the private sector. Those willing to continue to help the government in purchasing the vaccines, we will make that request if they are willing for the private sector to continue,” Concepcion said despite admitting “frustrations” over the expiry of the private sector’s P5.1 billion, 4.2 million Covid-19 doses.
If not, he said, the pharmaceutical companies will apply for the certificate of product registration so that these vaccines can be sold at the drugstores and be purchased by the private sector.
At the virtual Go Negosyo Town Hall: Navigating from Pandemic to Endemic, Concepcion said this is the next pathway as the state public health emergency declaration will expire in September. And as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated in his first State of the Nation Address there will be more no more lockdowns, Concepcion does not see any reason for the reinstatement of the state of public emergency.
This means, pharmaceutical companies will either apply for certification of production registration or insist that the government provides emergency use authority.
As the country moves forward to the next stage from a pandemic to endemic, Concepcion said the private sector is looking towards a “definitely a much brighter Philippines.”
Concepcion, who now heads the Advisory Council of Experts, composed of those who have helped the government during the height of the pandemic, said there should not be any repeat in the expiry of vaccines.
Concepcion said “It is a big amount” that could have been prevented by the government.
While he refused to blame anyone from the lost of 4.2 million Covid-19 vaccines, he warned against repeating the same mistake in the future.
“I believe that all of these committees that were organized to advise the Department of Health, but in the end, like in our business, the CEO, or the board is where everything stops. The decision is made at our level as owners of our business as CEOs of companies that we manage,” he said.
“We made a very important decision and I believe, moving forward, that the Secretary of Health should make those decisions. Whether they would adhere to the advice of the different committees or whether they will refine the advice of the different companies, maybe we could avoid something like this from happening,” he stressed.
The further noted that the government will still have enough vaccines based on inventory, basically Pfizer vaccines. “Hopefully we are able to make the necessary corrections that a repeat of such an event doesn't happen,” he added.
“It very important that we continue to use vaccination as the primary tool and now with booster shots with the first or second boosters with whatever vaccine that will be available,” he added.
“I think we should look at the bright spot. Let's continue to campaign for the first booster shot and even the second booster shot,” he said stressing this will ensure confidence that the country will make it even with the next challenges it may face.