It’s time for private sector to play bigger role in COVID-19 vaccinations – Velasco

Students of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila were inoculated against COVID-19 on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (File photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — It’s about time for the government to give the private sector a bigger role in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said in a statement issued on Monday.

“Since there is now ample supply of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines globally, it is time that the national government consider allowing the private sector to deal directly with manufacturers to ensure a more sustainable and dependable supply of life-saving vaccines for Filipinos,” Velasco said.

“By granting the private sector greater participation in the vaccination campaign, the government can focus its resources on the inoculation of frontliners, uniformed personnel and vulnerable sectors,” Velasco said. “The amount the government will save can be channeled to efforts to help economic recovery post-pandemic.”

According to Velasco, the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021 allows private companies and local government units (LGUs) to procure COVID-19 vaccines that have been issued an emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration.

However, this would only be possible through a tripartite agreement, which means the government — represented by the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) — would have to be present in the dealings.

Amending this law, which Velasco said he would be amenable to, would streamline the process and allow the private sector to pump in more vaccines into the country through direct purchases.

He also raised the possibility of handing down COVID-19 vaccination responsibilities to local governments to further lighten the load on the national government.

Earlier, on Nov. 22, Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion, who is the presidential adviser for entrepreneurship, made a similar suggestion, noting that the private sector could help the government achieve herd immunity faster.

READ: Concepcion wants private sector to be allowed to use procured doses as booster shots

ATM