PH submits indemnity deal to COVAX pool for Pfizer, AstraZeneca vaccines

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has signed and submitted to the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility the indemnity agreement for the expected Pfizer and AstraZeneca Covid-19 jabs, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Wednesday.

“Nakapagpirma na po at naisumite na po natin ang mga requirements kasama na po dito ang indemnification agreements para sa Pfizer at AstraZeneca. Napirmahan na po namin iyon,” Galvez said in a televised briefing.

(We have signed and submitted the requirements, including the indemnification agreements for Pfizer and AstraZeneca. We have already signed that.)

Galvez said they are now awaiting the COVAX facility’s feedback on the indemnity agreement where the Philippine government assured manufacturers that it will assume responsibility should vaccine recipients experience adverse effects.

“Binibigyan po namin sila ng guarantee na yung gagawin natin na immunization, prepared na prepared na po ang Pilipinas, na kaya po natin ihandle pati po yung mga adverse effects,” he said.

(We gave them a guarantee that in the immunization we’re going to conduct, the Philippines is prepared to handle the adverse effects.)

Vaccines from American drugmaker Pfizer initially expected to arrive mid-February faced delays due to the hitches in ironing out the indemnity agreement.

Despite this, Galvez assured that the deal with Pfizer under the COVAX facility is still good to go.

“Maganda po yung paguusap namin kahapon, nakikita po natin na yung ating paguusap ay meron pong patutunguhan… Ang nakikita lang natin yung delay because they’re still contemplating kung ano po ang magiging final mutual agreement sa indemnity agreement,” he said.

(Our dialogue yesterday was good, we say that our talks will definitely go somewhere. We’re only seeing delays because they’re still contemplating on the final mutual agreement for the indemnity clause.)

Galvez had already asked President Rodrigo Duterte to certify as urgent bills pending in Congress that will establish an indemnity fund to compensate recipients who will experience side effects of the Covid-19 vaccine.

EDV