PH preparing for ‘logistics’ of COVID-19 vaccine distribution

MANILA, Philippines — The government is already training its sights for the challenging importation and transportation of the expected COVID-19 vaccine, Malacañang said Tuesday.

While a financing scheme is already in place once the vaccine becomes available, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the storage of the vaccines is what the government is preparing for, as it has to be frozen at around -90 degrees Celsius.

“Inaayos na po ang mga issue such as logistics. Paano mapaparating dito, saan ii-store dahil ang storage po pala niyan ay -90 pala ang kailangan,” Roque said in a televised Palace press briefing.

As for the actual distribution, the Palace official said the government will bank on the country’s experience in implementing vaccination program such as for measles and polio.

“Pero pagdating naman sa distribution, sabi ni (Health) Sec. Duque ay sanay na tayo diyan dahil napakarami nating mga vaccination drive one of which is ongoing. Measles and polio ata,” Roque said.

“So sanay na sanay na tayo sa actual distribution o pagtuturok, ang pinaghahandaan natin talaga ay logistics, pag-import, kasi specialized ang transportation nito; -90 storage pagdating po dito sa Pilipinas,” he added.

In a radio interview earlier this day, Roque said the government may build more storage facilities or urge the private sector to invest in their construction as the country currently only has one such facility which is at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa.

“So talagang matindi rin iyong paghamon ‘pag lumabas na ang bakuna at ngayon pa lang ang talagang mensahe ni Presidente maghanda na tayo ‘no. So iyong mga detalye hindi lang iyong perang pambili,” Roque said over ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

The Department of Health (DOH) has an allocation of P2.5 billion for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines. But the agency admitted it is about P10 billion short to cover the 20 million Filipinos President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly vowed to vaccinate.

READ: 2021 budget for COVID-19 vaccines over P10 billion short — DOH

According to DOH spokesperson Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, some lawmakers have committed to increasing the funding to get to their estimate of P12.1 billion for the vaccination of priority populations which include health workers and indigent Filipinos.

JE