MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Saturday said Malacañang should designate a “vaccine czar” to prepare for the storage and distribution of vaccines against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In a statement, Recto said the vaccine czar will help solve possible problems such as how to distribute the vaccines to 110 million Filipinos. The senator said vaccine doses could be limited, citing the World Health Organization’s figures that about two billion doses of the vaccine can be released by the end of 2021.
“Ilan ang matitira para sa mga Pilipino? Countries that have sunk billions into their development have firm orders so they are first in line. Pang-ilan tayo sa mahabang linya?” Recto said.
The senator also underscored the vaccine czar’s role to ensure that the vaccines are stored in freezing temperatures in the Philippines, a tropical country.
The Palace previously revealed that it is readying logistics for the procurement and storage of the vaccine at around -90 degrees Celsius.