WV leaders mull more vaccine deals

Leaders in Western Visayas have agreed to purchase additional COVID-19 vaccines as they target to inoculate 70% of the region’s total population.

On January 17, 2021, top leaders of Region 6 met at the office of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas to discuss plans to purchase additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Novavax.

“Ang mga governors sang Western Visayas naga-agree tanan nga madugang bakal sang vaccines. Gin–istorya nila si Sec. Carlito Galvez kon san-o baklon,” Treñas said in a press conference after the meeting on Sunday.

Present during the meeting were Governors Florencio Miraflores of Aklan, Rhodora Cadiao of Antique, Esteban Contreras of Capiz, Samuel Gumarin of Guimaras, Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo, Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental; former Guimaras congressman and governor Dr. JC Rahman Nava, and former 3rd district Representative Negros Occidental Alfredo Benitez.

Treñas said Sec. Galvez – who joined their meeting online – assured the leaders that the national government will help secure additional vaccines.

During the meeting, Treñas said US-based biotechnology company Novavax that developed another COVID-19 vaccine, Covovax, presented updates on their product.

The mayor said the leaders in the region have yet to seal non-disclosure agreements with Novavax.

“Waay pa signing kay nag-istorya pa sila para makuhaan non-disclosure agreement,” he added.

Based on a CNN report, the Covovax vaccine was developed by American-based Novavax, but is manufactured in India.

Clinical trials for the vaccine have been deployed in the US, the United Kingdom, and Mexico, among others.

According to Treñas, they are targeting to inoculate about 70% of the region’s total population (7,536,383).

Both the city and province of Iloilo have inked deals for the purchase of AstraZeneca vaccines.

Iloilo City recently signed the multilateral agreement for the advance purchase of AstraZeneca of vaccines with a budget of PHP200-million for 600,000 doses of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, Iloilo province also recently signed a multilateral agreement for the purchase of 270,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines.  (ERS)