Private sector eyes Pfizer deal with nat’l gov’t for employees’ children

NO LETUP A health worker on Sunday prepares doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for hundreds of residents at Emilio Jacinto Elementary School in Tondo, Manila. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — The private sector has asked the national government for another deal to possibly procure Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to vaccinate its employees’ children, presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said Tuesday.

“We’re asking [vaccine czar] Secretary [Carlito] Galvez if he can also support bringing in some Pfizer, hopefully. We’re still trying to see how far that can go,” Concepcion said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

Concepcion did not say yet the exact number of Pfizer doses the private sector is eyeing.

He explained that that request for purchase would likewise be through a tripartite agreement with the vaccine manufacturer and the national government.

“Similar to what we’ve done with AstraZeneca, with Moderna, we’d like to help the government in bringing Pfizer. The government has ordered a lot for its own use and the LGUs but the private sector would like to see how we can bring Pfizer so that eventually, we can use this for our children,” Concepcion said.

“Although Secretary Galvez said they are planning to inoculate the children starting September, October. We’d like to participate, if they will allow, on a tripartite agreement so we can also help the children of our employees,” he added.

Galvez has proposed vaccinating children by late September or October, but the Department of Health said its priority of inoculating the country’s adult population remains.

The Philippine government has secured a total of 40 million Pfizer vaccine doses.

So far, only Pfizer has an emergency use authorization for the use of its COVID-19 vaccine on children from 12 to 15 years old.

EDV