PH won’t waive full immunity against suits of vaccine makers

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will not waive the full immunity against liability of vaccine manufacturers in case recipients of their vaccines experience adverse effects,  Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the vaccine czar, said in a pre-recorded briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte that aired on Wednesday.

Some vaccine makers want full immunity, but Galvez noted that the government would want to protect Filipinos.

“Actually, sir, it’s really tedious because some manufacturers really want full blanket [immunity],” Galvez, speaking partly in Filipino, told Duterte. “[According to] the Senate and from our point of view, it should not be full blanket because what we have to maintain what we call good manufacturing practices.”

Galvez said it would be “unfair” for the government to “surrender” to what the vaccine makers want, which is “blanket immunity.”

“Our concern is malpractices and wilfull neglect,” he said.

A bill that would establish an indemnity fund is now awaiting the President’s signature.

But despite having this, Galvez insisted that negotiations between the government and vaccine manufacturers should be “fair and square.”

“They should maintain the specification required of the vaccine they will deliver — that the vaccine is safe and effective,” he said.

Vaccines from the World Health Organization-led Covax facility were supposed to be the first to arrive in the country mid-February, but their delivery was stalled by issues regarding the indemnification agreement.

The government and World Health Organization are now waiting for the indemnity agreements with Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca, which are needed to finalize the delivery of the vaccines through Covax.

[atm]