Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion believes that a win-win situation would be achieved if vaccine manufacturers apply for and receive their Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) for Covid-19 vaccines. Despite the arrival of Covid-19 bivalent vaccines being put on hold, Concepcion remains optimistic that a solution is possible, stating that it’s important to prepare and allow people to make their own decisions regarding vaccination at a time when positivity rates are low.

“Eventually, Covid-19 will be just like the flu, or pneumonia or shingles, with regular vaccinations available for those who need it. We just have to make sure that the vaccines will be widely available,” he said.

Concepcion reminded that it will be nearly one year for most people who last received their booster shots, suggesting that there might be waning immunity.

“The government has spent enough for Covid. It is time that the responsibility is shifted to the pharma companies to make these medicines available, and to the individuals to protect themselves by getting vaccinated or boostered,” said Concepcion.

“The pharma companies will be able to generate business from the vaccines as it will be sold at a higher price and there will be people who will make it part of their regular vaccinations. And for those who need it, it will be readily available at the clinics and pharmacies,” he said.

He explained that it is understandable that the vaccine manufacturers would prefer to be indemnified against adverse reactions, but that this cannot be a permanent situation. “The higher prices for the vaccines would cover the costs for any adverse reactions. This is only expected in the pharma business,” he said.

“For the donated vaccines, it is really up to the government as to which segments of the population they will prioritize. But once we have commercially available vaccines, people can decide for themselves,” he said. “We have to let the public participate in how they manage their own health.”

The first batch of donated bivalent vaccines was expected to arrive by the end of March, consisting of 1,002,000 doses which the COVAX committed to the Philippines. However, the Department of Health (DOH) announced last March 28 that the donations were put on hold due to certain conditions required by vaccine manufacturers. According to reports, the delay is caused by the change in conditions on the immunity from liability and indemnification clauses required by manufacturers after the Philippines lifted the state of calamity.

The CPR would take the place of Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), which the pharma companies used even as the Covid vaccines were yet to receive approval from the FDA. Without an EUA, drugs must have CPRs before these can be made commercially available.

“The private sector has already offered a solution, and that is to allow private health facilities to buy these vaccines. This can only be done if the pharma companies apply for CPRs,” he said. Concepcion noted that the FDA’s Task Force Fleming has already been formed to streamline the approval and evaluation of the Covid vaccines and drugs.

“I think it is important that we make these vaccines accessible to a larger part of the population, specifically those who are willing to take it and those who are essential to keeping our economy going,” he said.