Duterte certifies vax indemnification bill as urgent

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has certified as urgent the proposed law mandating an indemnification fund for people who might experience the possible adverse effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., in a virtual presser, announced that Senator Christopher Lawrence Go confirmed earlier Thursday that the President already signed the certification of urgency on the pending indemnification bills.

“Magandang balita po, pinirmahan na po ng ating mahal na Pangulo ang pag-sertipika ng panukalang batas as urgent (Good news. Our beloved President has already certified the measures as urgent),” Galvez said.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said a copy of the certification would be released within this day.

The indemnity or no-fault agreement is one of the requirements before the Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility could deliver Covid-19 vaccines to the Philippines.

The pending bills before the Senate and the House of Representatives seek to put up a PHP500-million indemnity fund to provide compensation to people who will suffer adverse side effects from use of Covid-19 vaccines.

Roque agreed that there is a need to ensure availability of national funds to compensate Filipinos in case they die or experience serious side effects after getting inoculated with Covid-19 vaccine.

“Ano po ang katotohanan? Wala pa pong mga commercial use authorization ang kahit na [anong] bakuna. Ibig pong sabihin, nasa emergency use authorization lang po tayo. At dahil nasa emergency use authorization, hindi pa talaga tayo sigurado kung ano ang magiging side effects ng mga bakuna (What’s the truth? There is no commercial use authorization yet for the use of any vaccine. Meaning, we’re just allowing the emergency use authorization. And since it’s just emergency use authorization, we are not sure of the possible side effects of the vaccine),” he said.

Galvez earlier noted that the indemnification requirements have caused delays in the arrival of an initial batch of 117,000 doses of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines through COVAX facility.

The government is targeting to launch the mass vaccination drive in the country this month.

Front-line health workers will be the first in line to receive the Covid-19 vaccine shots, based on the government’s immunization plan.