MANILA, Philippines — COVID-19 is no longer very frightening with the development of a vaccine nearing development in the United States, President Rodrigo Duterte said in a pre-recorded address aired Tuesday night.
“Pfizer of America already has it. So COVID is no longer scary,” Duterte said in Filipino.
According to him, Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez III said the government can borrow $300 million to fund the vaccine purchase.
The President also reiterated that the government would shoulder the costs of the expected COVID-19 vaccine, prioritizing the poorest of the poor.
According to Pfizer, its COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90 percent effective based on initial trial results.
The pharmaceutical giant said it found no serious safety concerns yet and it might seek authorization for emergency use in the U.S. this month.
Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez said vaccines manufactured by American pharmaceutical companies might become available for procurement by the first quarter of 2021.
–With a report from Reuters
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