The Philippines has allocated P1.5 billion for the country’s participation in Gavi COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility.
Science Secretary Fortunato de la Peña stated in an interview on Cignal TV’s One News that countries who wish to participate in the alliance have to commit a certain amount for the purchase of vaccines.
“If you want to join, you have to commit that you would buy a certain number (of vaccines) equivalent to three percent of your population,” he said.
With the cost of a vaccine ranging around P500, he said that it would be equivalent to around P1.5 billion. He added that P1.5 billion has already been set aside so that the Philippines can join the alliance.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed that the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has approved of the country joining in the COVAX Facility.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the COVAX facility is a project designed to speed up the process of developing and manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines and make sure that there is a fair and equitable access to said vaccines worldwide.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles stated that our inclusion in the alliance will allow the country to be a part of the search for the vaccine and be one of those who will be given access to the vaccine once one is developed.
Resolution no.58 solidifies the Philippines’ participation in the Gavi Alliance.
President Duterte has promised to purchase a vaccine for every Filipino to end the pandemic that has crippled our economy and affected the lives of millions and millions of Filipinos.
WHO stated that around 75 countries have interests in participating and joining the COVAX facility.
Those 75 countries would fund the vaccines from their own budgets and partner with up to 90 lower-income countries that could be supported through voluntary donations to Gavi’s COVAX AMC. “Together, this group of up to 165 countries represents more than 60 percent of the world’s population. Among the group are representatives from every continent and more than half of the world’s G20 economies,” the WHO stated.
More than $8.8 billion has been raised from different governments and eight foundations, organizations and private corporations last month during the Global Vaccine Summit held in the United Kingdom.
Additional reports: msn.com
Photo source: CTTO, gavi.org
