THE country’s bid to acquire donations of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX Facility has been put “on hold” because of legal issues, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said yesterday.
An expected donation of a million doses was supposed to arrive this month. Earlier, the Department of Health said the possible donation from COVAX, a worldwide initiative aimed at ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, is facing delays because of immunity from liability and indemnification required by vaccine manufacturers.
The state of calamity declared by the previous administration because of the COVID-19 pandemic contained clauses on indemnification and immunity from liability that were required by manufacturers and donors. The declaration lapsed on Dec. 31, 2022.
Vergeire said the Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General are reviewing legal remedies on the requirements on indemnity and immunity from liability.
She expressed belief the donation will push through because the DOJ and OSG are looking at “available legal remedies so that we can go on and have this COVAX donation.”
Also among options being eyed by the DOH is the passage of the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) bill in Congress.
“Once this CDC law is passed, it will include provisions that shall cover those needed in our agreement with those that are going donate vaccines,” said Vergeire.
President Marcos Jr. has certified Senate Bill No. 1869 as urgent. The House of Representatives approved it CDC bill in December last year.
“With a local CDC, all systems that are essential to ensure a proactive health response in normal and emergency situations will be strengthened and institutionalized,” Vergeire said in a statement.
