Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo on Friday rallied behind efforts to produce COVID-19 vaccines, saying it is “the fastest way to achieving herd immunity in our country and around the world.”
“Let’s support the initiative to produce these vaccines locally. This would be a game changer in fighting the pandemic, hastening economic recovery and returning to normal life,” said Castelo, an assistant majority leader.
She said the country would not lack patriotic businessmen to invest in the domestic manufacture of vaccines.
“Manny Pangilinan has expressed readiness to support this grand initiative. I am sure that the likes of Ramon Ang and the Ayalas would only be willing to join him,” she said.
She added that aside from hastening vaccination and herd immunity, domestic vaccine production “will also create jobs for many Filipinos.”
To start local vaccine production, Castelo said international pharmaceutical companies would have to lift patent restrictions and share the results of their research and studies with the rest of the world.
She noted that US President Joe Biden has already called for the waiver of COVID-19 jab patents to allow other countries to produce it and fight the pandemic in their territories.
“Let us share the call of the United States. These drug companies have by now already recouped their investments, with their numerous previous, present and future purchase orders. The markets show that these firms have grown immensely in value since they reported their vaccine research and development breakthroughs,” she said.
Castelo reminded drugmakers and countries opposing the vaccine patent waiver call that “no one is safe from COVID-19 until everyone is safe.”
“We have seen it. Super-spreader variants are finding their way to other nations even with stricter border controls. The pandemic has to be fought and controlled nationally and globally,” Castelo said.
For his part, Sen. Joel Villanueva said drive-thru, home delivery, workplace, open churches and village-organized vaccinations are key to hastening the rollout.
“And if we add company-run workplace vaccinations to the equation, we are opening five new tracks on which vaccine deliveries can speed through,” Villanueva said. “We need all hands on deck. The more sites, the better.”