MANILA – China-based Sinovac coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine costs only around P650 per dosage just like its pricing in other countries, Malacañang assured Sunday.
“Fake news ‘yung kumakalat na P3,600 per dose daw ang singil ng China,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview with DZBB. “Ang presyo ng Sinovac ay hindi lalayo sa presyo ng Indonesia na bandang P650 kada turok.”
Roque also noted that since China and the Philippines have “close relations,” the country was given a “special price” for the vaccine purchase. It was also the “reason why the actual costs cannot be revealed” to the public.
“Ang presyo kasi ng Tsina, hindi gaya ng ibang kompanya na kapitalista na market-dictated. Ang presyo ng Tsina puwede nilang baguhin. Wala silang pakialam, depende kung sino ang bibili,” Roque said.
“‘Yun ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw ipa-anunsiyo mismo ng Tsina kasi nga baka magalit ‘yung hindi nila masyadong BFF na alam nilang bumili nang mas mahal,” the Palace official added.
Roque also defended the government’s choice for Sinovac pointing out that although it only yielded a 50-percent efficacy rate in trials in Brazil, it caused no hospitalization among those who were vaccinated.
“Doon sa Brazil napatunayan na sa 50 percent na posibleng magka-COVID, 78 percent mild asymptomatic na hindi na kailangan magpatingin sa doktor, at 100 percent walang naoospital. ‘Di ba napakaganda rin noon? Bakit natin tatanggihan?” Roque stressed.
Amid concerns on the vaccine’s price and efficacy, officials said the country can still opt out of the deal if it fails to secure regulatory approval from the Food and Drug Administration./PN
