Gov’t forms Galvez-led vaccine cluster under COVID-19 task force

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

MANILA, Philippines — A vaccine cluster has been formed under the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 to be headed by the chief implementer himself Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Malacañang said Friday.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier designated Galvez as vaccine czar.

His duties include the purchase, negotiation, production and distribution of the expected vaccine against COVID-19.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases “restructured the NTF to establish the COVID-19 Vaccine Cluster with the Vaccine Czar as Chair.”

Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., National Task Force COVID-19 chief implementer,  (Photo from an RTVM video)

“As a result of this restructuring, the COVID-19 Immunization Program Management Organizational Structure, which was approved under IATF Resolution No. 82 last October 26, 2020 was abolished,” he added.

The abolished task force was supposed to be headed by the Department of Health (DOH).

Meanwhile, Roque detailed Galvez’s responsibilities as vaccine czar which includes coordinating “agencies, actors, and technical working groups on behalf of the DOH [Department of Health].”

Galvez is also tasked to facilitate the early issuance of the Certificate of Product Registration with the Food and Drugs Administration, to coordinate with the Department of Budget and Management and legislators on budget and co-payment ceilings, and more.

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