MANILA, Philippines — “We do not have the clout because we are not a rich nation.”
President Rodrigo Duterte had this to say amid the government’s bid to secure and purchase vaccines against the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which continues to infect many Filipinos.
In a recorded briefing aired on television Monday night, Duterte said the reason the Philippines seems to be “second fiddle” in the negotiations in the acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines is that rich nations are being given the vaccines first.
“Parang second-fiddle tayo, it’s because ‘yung mga mayaman, doon pa ginagawa sa kanila ang vaccine, uunahin talaga ang Amerika,” Duterte said.
“There’s no such available vaccine sa Pfizer ngayon. Wala silang maibigay eh ginagamit sa Amerika eh, kinukuha,” the President added.
Duterte made the remark amid accusations that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III “dropped the ball” on the deal to secure Pfizer vaccines early for the Philippines as the health official supposedly failed to submit a confidentiality data agreement that would have allowed the transaction to push through.
Duque has since denied the allegations, saying that the government’s negotiation with Pfizer is ongoing.
During Monday’s briefing, Duterte likewise said that “there is as yet no Pfizer vaccines available for the Philippines.”
“Wala pa, binabakunahan pa ang mga Amerikano lahat. Agawan sila ngayon sa Amerika,” Duterte said.
“That explains ‘yung sinasabi ni General Galvez na bakit ma-delay kasi binibili ng mga mayaman na bayan. Tayo, wala naman tayong masyado ano, ‘yung pera natin pambili lang talaga but we do not have the clout because we are not a rich nation,” he added.
Nevertheless, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. disclosed in the same briefing that the Philippines may sign a contract for the purchase of 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from British drugmaker AstraZeneca on December 28 or 29.
As of December 21, there are 461,505 COVID-19 cases in the country, with the death toll approaching the 9,000-mark.