The Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) has defended its decisions regarding the use of Covid vaccines, saying that its recommendations were always based on scientific evidence.
Recently, Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion criticized both the Department of Health (DOH) and HTAC for their supposed delayed approval of expanding the coverage of second booster vaccination—as this cause for the wastage of at least 4.2 million vaccine doses bought by the private sector.
The Council said it "has not delayed any rollout to date."
"The HTAC recommendations are based on scientific evidence. If evidence is found to be lacking, unsatisfactory, or non-existent, then no favorable recommendation can be issued. The HTAC is also a Council and, as such, decisions are made not by a single person, but as a collective body," it said in a statement.
"Expiration of vaccines is not enough reason to push for vaccines. For any other health technology, our health professionals prescribe the best choice for the people, not because they are 'sayang,'" it added.
It noted that its recommendations were aligned with the Covid-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, saying that it should be based on "preliminary data from Phase III clinical trials and World Health Organization recommendations, in the absence of completed Phase III and Phase IV clinical trials."
“HTAC would like to say that health technology assessment is a process based on scientific evidence and other considerations that requires thought and deliberation among the Council members,” it said.
“Procedures are in place to address the emergency situation. Records will show that HTAC has not been remiss in complying with timelines and the HTAC stands firm in its adherence to the principles of health technology assessment on which it was established,” it added.
Economic frontliners
In a separate statement, the DOH said that the wastage could have been prevented if the said vaccines were given as first booster shots for eligible economic frontliners.
“At the time these private sector-procured vaccines came in, there were 8.1 million working Filipinos - economic frontliners - already due for their first booster. This demand grew to as high as 14 million economic frontliners as of July 26, 2022,” the DOH said.
“Even if all the economic frontliners due for first boosters were given their company shots in December, there would still be around 1.6 million workers waiting for their first boosters after all near-expiring private doses have been consumed,” it added.
“Beginning December 19, 2021, the private sector received 12.4 million AstraZeneca and Moderna Covid-19 vaccine doses procured through government mechanisms, with expiry dates in July and August 2022,” the DOH noted, citing data from the Zuellig Pharma Cold Chain Warehouse.
The DOH also cited other ways to use the vaccines of the private sector.
"Through a multi-sectoral approach that has included the private sector, efforts have been focused on increasing primary series coverage, as well as the number of eligible private sector employees given their first booster shots. As early as October 2021, government policy (JMC No. 2021-0002) gave the private sector an option to donate its Covid-19 vaccines directly to local government units (LGUs),” it said.
“The law also allows chief medical officers of private companies to make their own vaccine recipient lists and implement steps that could expedite vaccine deployment and prevent expiry,” it added.