LGUs may buy vaccines via tripartite deal with nat’l gov’t, manufacturers – Dizon

MANILA, Philippines — Local governments may secure supplies of coronavirus vaccines through tripartite agreements with the manufacturers and the national government, National Task Force Against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon said Tuesday.

In a televised press briefing in Malacañang, Dizon explained that vaccine manufacturers only deal with national governments for possible vaccine supply.

“Pwede pong mag-avail ng COVID-19 vaccines ang mga LGUs (local government units) pero ito po ay kailangan gawin through a tripartite system or agreement between iyong vaccine manufacturer, iyong LGU, at national government,” Dizon said.

“Dahil po ang mga vaccine manufacturers sa buong mundo ang polisiya po nila ay nakikipagdeal lang po sila sa mga national governments,” he added.

Dizon said this after several local governments, particularly in Metro Manila, bared plans and even set aside funds for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines for their constituents.

READ: LIST: Where to get free COVID-19 vaccines in Metro Manila

Currently, the national government is in talks with several drugmakers such as Pfizer and Moderna of the United States, Sinovac Biotech and Sinopharm of China, and Gamaleya Institute of Russia.

It has so far secured 2.6 million doses of vaccine from British drugmaker AstraZeneca through a tripartite agreement with local private firms. The vaccines are expected to arrive in the second quarter of 2021.

KGA