PH more than prepared to handle Pfizer vaccines: Galvez

MANILA – The country is well-prepared and ready for the arrival of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNtech company, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Wednesday.

“We are more than prepared to handle including iyong tinatawag na most critical na itong Pfizer at saka iyong ibang mga bakuna na darating po dito ngayon (those most critical Pfizer vaccines as well as those other Covid-19 jabs that are coming here),” Galvez, also the National Policy Against Covid-19 chief implementer, said in an interview during the Laging Handa press briefing.

Galvez said there are negotiations with pharmaceutical firm Pfizer to assure the mutual protection of the government and the vaccine manufacturer in the country’s inoculation program.

The government’s agreement with Pfizer will most likely push through, he said, assuring that it will not be endangered with the latest discussions on the indemnification clause.

The government, he said, has guaranteed the vaccine manufacturers that the Philippines is well-prepared to conduct the massive vaccination rollout and ready to handle adverse effects of the vaccines.

He cited the preparedness of the local government units (LGUs), the front-liners in the healthcare sector, and the private sector for the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.

The country is expecting to receive 117,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines this month.

Meanwhile, Galvez said they are still waiting for the response from the Pfizer company about the country’s request for the additional doses of Pfizer vaccines from the COVAX facility.

The government has already sent a request letter to the management of the COVAX facility prior to the given deadline of request submission on Feb.14, he said.

“Naipasa na po namin iyon kasama po iyong intent namin na magkaroon pa ng additional 2.3 million na Pfizer (We have already submitted it and we included our intent to get an additional 2.3 million of Pfizer vaccines),” Galvez said.

Meanwhile, National Policy Against Covid-19 deputy chief implementer Secretary Vince Dizon said the country has enough trained vaccinators to facilitate the nationwide inoculation program for Covid-19.

Dizon said the LGUs and other non-government organizations such as Philippine Red Cross alongside the private sector are also working to ensure that the success of the upcoming national vaccine rollout.

“Ready na po tayo pagdating po ng mga bakuna, unang-una, galing sa COVAX Facility ay magsisimula na po immediately ang ating vaccination program (We are ready for the arrival of the vaccines, and first of all, we will immediately start the vaccination program once the vaccines from COVAX facility will arrive),” Dizon said.