‘Presyong BFF’: Palace assures Sinovac not the most expensive vaccine

MANILA, Philippines — The Covid-19 vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech is not the most expensive since the Philippines was given a “BFF” rate, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, however, did not disclose the price of Sinovac’s vaccine as it is covered by the confidentiality clause of the agreement.

“I’m not at liberty pero I can say, sa lahat po ng oorderin natin, hindi pinakamahal ang Sinovac. Alam niyo kasi ang Tsina, hindi ‘yan kapitalista, komunista ‘yan. So their prices are not driven by market forces. Pupuwede silang unilaterally mag-fix ng price,” Roque said in an online briefing.

(I’m not at liberty but I can say that out of all vaccines we will order, Sinovac’s is not the most expensive. China is not a capitalist, they’re communist. Their prices are not driven by market forces. They can unilaterally set a fixed price.)

“At I can assure you, nabigyan po tayo ng presyo na ukol lamang sa kanilang BFF. Hindi po pinakamahal ang SInovac. Paninira lang po ng oposisyon ‘yan,” he added.

( I can assure you, we were given a price for a BFF. Sinovac is not the most expensive. This is only a scheme of the opposition.)

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the Philippines chose Sinovac’s vaccine because it’s a little cheaper than other brands, particularly those developed by firms from the United States. However, he also did not disclose the cost of its vaccine.

“Kung hindi po ako nagkakamali, pangatlong pinakamahal lang po sya out of six brands. It is in the mid-range. Wala pong katuturan ‘yang mga nginangawa ng mga kritiko na napakamahal daw ng Sinovac,” Roque said.

(If I’m not mistaken, it’s only the third most expensive out of six brands. It is in the mid-range. It is non-sense for critics to say that Sinovac’s vaccine is expensive.)

According to data released by Senator Sonny Angara, chair of the Senate committee on finance, Sinovac’s vaccine has a price tag of P3,629.50 for two doses per patient.

The most expensive is Moderna’s vaccine, which costs around P3,904 to P4,504 for two doses per person.

READ: Explainer: Facts about 7 COVID-19 vaccines Philippines may get

The Philippines has already secured 25 million doses of Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccines – 50,000 of which is expected to arrive in the country by February.

KGA