Editorial

Free COVID-19 vaccines to 20 million people

 President Rodrigo Duterte said in a recent taped address that it has enough funds to purchase and distribute free coronavirus vaccines to 20 million Filipinos once it is available.

 In fact, the President expressed confidence that a vaccine will be developed by December and said it is possible that China will be one of the first countries to complete its research. He even claimed that the Philippines will get priority access to the vaccines because of its ‘good relationship’ with China.

 And while the world awaits for a coronavirus vaccine, the Philippine government is already preparing how to fund, procure, and distribute it to Filipinos.

 Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, who was tasked by Duterte to take care of the funding, detailed how the Philippines plans to procure 40 million doses of vaccinesestimated to cost P20 billion. Dominguez stressed they have a “plan”.

 He said the vaccine chosen by the DOH will be bought through the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC), which is under the Department of Trade. It will be initially financed by the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines, then paid off by the DOH.

 Dominguez also said that once the vaccine is readily available in the Philippines, the country's economy will finally recoverespecially after hitting the "lowest part" in April and May. He also reiterated that once the vaccine is available, the economy can be fullyopened and we can start the normal life.

Meanwhile, it was learned that the Duterte administrationshall prioritize the poor families in the initial distribution of vaccines, with the military in charge of handing them out.

 he President emphasized first on the list are the poorest of the poor or those who received cash aid during the crisis. They will also give it for free to those who are sick or dying, middle income class families as well as military and police.

 However, he notably missed including the healthcare workers in his list.