Supply deals with 3 vaccine makers seen before end of Feb — Angara

MANILA, Philippines— The government is expected to sign supply agreements with three COVID-19 vaccine makers before the end of the month, senators learned on Monday.

“Before the end of the month, we will have concluded agreements with Novavax, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson, Mr.  President,” Senator Sonny Angara said as the Senate resumed deliberations on a bill seeking to expedite the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines.

As chairman of the Senate committee on finance,  Angara was responding to Senate  Minority  Leader Franklin Drilon’s queries about supply agreements with vaccine manufacturers.

However, none of the three vaccine developers Angara mentioned has been approved yet by the country’s  Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA has so far granted an emergency use authorization to  Pfizer, AstraZeneca and  China’s  Sinovac.

READ: China’s Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine gets emergency use authorization

When Drilon asked about the supply agreements with Pfizer and AstraZeneca, Angara said the indemnification clause is still being finalized with Pfizer.

READ: Lawmakers worried: Still no vaccine supply agreements

With respect to AstraZeneca,  Angara explained that the agreements are between the manufacturer and the private sector, and the local government units.

“So there’s no bilateral agreement for the supply of AstraZeneca vaccines between the national government and AstraZeneca. It’s between the local governments and the private companies, which are also in advance stages…” Angara added.

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