Gov’t agencies ink memorandum to expedite COVID-19 vaccine mass importation and local production
Press Release --- In line with efforts to secure a stable and sustainable supply of COVID-19 vaccines for Filipinos, government agencies have agreed to streamline and expedite rules on bulk vaccine importation and manufacturing through a joint memorandum circular which they signed on Wednesday, May 19.
In his message during the signing, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III noted the expected impact of the said measure on the nation’s economy, particularly on the business sector.
“Ang inisyatibong ito, bukod sa magiging tulong sa pagdami ng supply ng bakuna sa bansa upang maprotektahan ang sambayanang Pilipino, ito ay mahalagang kontribusyon upang iangat ang teknikal na kakayahan at galing ng lokal na industriya, para palakasin ang ekonomiya ng ating bansa,” Duque said.
As per JMC No. 1, Series of 2021, signed by the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF against COVID-19) and Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), a “green lane” will be set up for “securing permits, licenses and authorizations for the establishment and operation of a bulk import, fill, and finish local COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing facility.”
Under this “bulk import, fill and finish” business model, local manufacturers will partner with pharmaceutical companies. These joint ventures will be subject to FDA approval.
Through these partnerships, local companies can import in bulk the vaccine supplies from international manufacturers, in which they will fill up and package the vials for distribution.
Meanwhile, Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez noted that the initiative will kickstart the country’s self-sufficiency in vaccine production, as it also provides incentives for vaccine manufacturers.
“This is the first and necessary step in our journey towards having our very own vaccine manufacturing facility,” Lopez said.
For his part, Undersecretary Isidro Purisima, Deputy Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process for Operations, who represented NTF against COVID-19 Chief Implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., lauded the pioneering inter-agency effort, which will not only enable the government to address the challenges caused by shortages and delays in vaccine deliveries, but more importantly, build up the country’s herd immunity.
“As the world continues to deal with the limited supply of COVID-19 shots, additional vaccines to be produced from this initiative can be utilized by the government to achieve its goal of inoculating at least 70 percent of the country’s population, and build up the nation’s herd immunity within this year,” Purisima said. ###
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