MANILA – Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto has suggested to appoint a qualified coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine czar to ensure Filipinos could access the vaccine once it is available.
Recto said the vaccine czar can solve the “importation to injection” challenges while also setting up a “supply-to-syringe cold chain” to store the vaccines in freezing temperatures here.
“Like any frozen delight, the vaccine needs to be refrigerated. Filling the cold chain gap ranks high in the vaccine czar’s many duties,” Recto said in a statement over the weekend.
As the World Health Organization rolls out the vaccines by end of 2021, Recto questioned how many out of two billion doses of the vaccine will reach Filipinos.
“Ilan ang matitira para sa mga Pilipino? Countries who have sunk billions into their development have firm orders so they are first in line. Pang-ilan tayo sa mahabang linya?” Recto said.
He also pointed out countries who have developed the vaccines may bow to “country first” pressure from their own people and practice “vaccine nationalism.”
“We need a Filipino with global stature, excellent connections and diplomatic skills to successfully place the orders and outsmart the competition,” Recto said. “Bawal ang OJT dito.”
“The other problems are insular in nature. First is the selection. Kasi ang unang wave may element talaga ng rationing. Sino pipiliin? What will be the selection guideline? It is already settled that medical personnel will be first in line. Sino susunod?” he added.
“If the vaccines will be licensed to be produced here, do we have the infrastructure for that? And how fast can we scale up production?” the senator furthered.
Recto’s suggestion was supported by Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega, who said the appointment of a “vaccine czar” will depend on the discretion of the administration, especially the Office of the President.
“Kung magbigay sila ng vaccine czar para ma-focus talaga ‘yung vaccine development and implementation,” Vega said in an interview over DZBB on Sunday.
“Kung magkakaroon po ng vaccine czar, maganda ho ‘yan para focus talaga ang vaccine execution,” added Vega, who noted that the Department of Science and Technology and Food and Drug Administration are already working on the tasks involving the vaccines.
The government has allotted P2.5 billion in the 2021 budget for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines./PN
