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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH may struggle securing vaccines without Covid-19 state of calamity, says expert

PH may struggle securing vaccines without Covid-19 state of calamity, says expert

Published Sep 5, 2022 02:10 pm

The Covid-19 state of calamity imposed throughout the Philippines plays a vital role in the country’s endeavors to procure vaccines, a health expert said on Monday, Sept. 5.

A health worker showing Covid-19 vaccines (Ali Vicoy / Manila Bulletin)

University of the Philippines Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Emergency Medicine Chairman Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa expressed his support for the proposed extension of the Covid-19 state of calamity, highlighting its importance in the country’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Agree ako sa mungkahi (DOH) na ipalawig ang state of emergency para makaresponde tayo nang mabilis dito sa ating continued cases of Covid-19. Sapat naman siguro ang additional three months na idadagdag para makita ang ating sitwasyon. Karugtong nito ang pagpapalaganap ng pagbibigay ng mga booster doses (I agree with the DOH’s suggestion to extend the state of emergency so we can respond quickly to our continued cases of Covid-19. I think the additional three months will be enough to assess our situation. This also aims to increase the country’s booster inoculation),” said Herbosa in a “Laging Handa” public briefing.

The Covid-19 state of calamity currently imposed throughout the country will expire on Sept. 12, 2022.

Earlier, the DOH aired its recommendation to extend the state of calamity in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos’ statement that he is “likely to extend” it until the end of December 2022, aiming to raise the number of boosted Filipinos.

In relation to this, Herbosa stressed that without the imposed state of calamity, the Philippines may face conflicts in securing vaccines due to “very strict” regulations

“Yung mga pagbili natin ng bakuna at mga gamot...ay nabigyan lang ng pagkakataon na mabigyan ng Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) sapagkat meron tayong state of public health emergency. Ito ang ginamit na basehan ng Food and Drug Administration (FDA) para makapasok ang mga bakuna, antivirals, at iba pang gamot na maraming buhay ang naisalba (Our purchases of vaccines and medicines were only given the opportunity to be given an EUA because we have a state of public health emergency. This was the basis used by FDA to procure vaccines, antivirals and other drugs that have saved many lives) ,” said Herbosa.

To date, only 24 percent of those who have completed their primary dose have so far received at least one booster jab. This, according to Herbosa, is one of the reasons why the Philippines is one of the countries with the lowest booster rate in the ASEAN region.

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