THE ONSLAUGHT of the novel coronavirus, or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (COVID-19), highlighted the unpreparedness of the Philippines and other neighboring countries in containing a highly contagious virus and in effectively protecting the public from the novelty and danger presented by this viral disease. As of February 8, 2021, there have been 105,805,951 confirmed cases, including 2,312,278 deaths worldwide, that had been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Of these, 538,995 are confirmed cases and 11,231 deaths were recorded in the Philippines. WHO confirmed that a pandemic can be successfully curbed with vaccines. For instance, smallpox, which killed 300 million people in the 20th century alone, had been eradicated due to an intense global smallpox vaccination campaign joint with broader public health measures. Vaccine is therefore important in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and helping revive the nation as when the population is vaccinated, workers can go back to work, students can go back to school, and ultimately revitalizing the society and bringing normalcy back to every Filipino. Given the high demand for COVID-19 vaccine, where rich countries have already bought 80% of the supply, 2% was bought by the COVAX facility, leaving the low to middle income countries like the Philippines at the tail end of the supply chain as we fight for the remaining 18% of the remaining supply.
Importation of vaccines may be cheaper and a relatively easier route in protecting public health. However, the long-term and more efficient policy framework, specially in cases when there is a pandemic, is to revitalize the country’s local vaccine capability. The first Philippine vaccine laboratory was established in the 19th century and it initially produced smallpox vaccines. The laboratory was later expanded and became a major contributor to the promotion of Philippine public health programs during the American occupation. In fact, in 1939, the Philippines was even able to donate vaccines to China through the Philippine Red Cross. These vaccines were produced in the serum and vaccine laboratory in Alabang, which was operated by the University of the Philippines Institute of Hygiene. The art deco building where the vaccines were manufactured has been repurposed today as part of Festival Mall in Alabang.
In the 1950’s, through UNICEF’s assistance, the biologicals and vaccines produced in the Philippines included BCG, Tetanus Toxoid, Human and Animal Rabies vaccines, PPD, and biologicals like the Plasma-Derived Snake anti-venom. The country’s vaccine manufacture slowly declined due to absence of training on updated vaccine production, non-replacement of outdated facilities, and ultimately lack of governmental support. The right way forward to truly protect and promote the people’s right to health is to science our way through by investing in research and development and technology, and increasing our expert pool, all for the purpose of institutionalizing our local vaccine capability.
Senator Richard Gordon authored Senate Bill No. 2238 “An Act Creating the Philippine Vaccine Authority for the Development of Local Vaccine Manufacturing Capability, to Support Locally Manufactured Vaccines, and Providing For a Vaccine Development Fund…” This proposed bill shall be known as the Philippine Vaccine Development Act of 2021. It aims to improve the access to and delivery of safe, reasonably cost and effective vaccines to the Filipino people, to support the creation of a local vaccine development and manufacturing ecosystem, to support human resource development for vaccine technology and related fields, to encourage and support local research on vaccines and biologicals, and to provide incentives to companies for the local manufacture of vaccines and biologicals.
Vaccine shall refer to a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease that contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe, its toxins, its surface proteins, or its genetic material.
The Philippine Vaccine Authority shall oversee an ecosystem conducive for the development of the Philippine Vaccine Industry. Its principal office shall be in Metro Manila, but it may establish other branches or offices elsewhere in the Philippines as may be necessary or proper for the accomplishment of its purposes and objectives. In furtherance of its purposes and objectives, the Authority shall have the following powers and functions:
To create a long term Philippine Vaccine Development Plan and update it accordingly to create a research agenda for vaccines and biologicals, to develop and prescribe policies and standards for vaccines and biologicals research and manufacturing including, but not limited to, biosecurity and biosafety, for recommendation to appropriate government implementing agencies;
To coordinate and facilitate technology transfer from technology owners and research institutions to local institutions and manufacturers, to enter into, make and execute contracts and agreements of any kind;
To acquire or obtain from any governmental authority whether national or local, foreign or domestic, or from any person, corporation, partnership, association or other entity, such charters, franchises, licenses, rights, privileges, assistance, financial or otherwise, and concessions as are conducive to, and necessary or proper for the attainment of its purposes and objectives;
To outsource services, activities, projects, and programs; and
To capable third party providers.
The composition of the Board shall be composed of the following: Secretary of the Department of Health as ex-officio Chairman, Secretaries of the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of National Defense as permanent members, private sector representatives: one (1) from the academe or research institution engaged in vaccine technology, virology, or related fields; one (1) licensed clinician providing vaccination services; and one (1) from the pharmaceutical industry belonging to Filipino companies as appointive members, to be appointed by the President of the Philippines for a non-extendible term of three (3) years.
The Authority, in pursuit of its objectives, shall endeavor to provide for human resource development in the following fields: vaccine technology and related areas including but not limited to molecular biology, microbiology, virology, chemistry, biosecurity & biosafety, and biotechnology; to provide funds for scholarships, study grants, training programs and short courses, both local and foreign; to support annual conventions & conferences of professionals in the field of vaccine technology and related areas; to engage Balik Scientists and foreign experts following the terms of reference and compensation structure of the Balik Scientist Program; and to provide for qualified employees of the Authority and its attached units the benefits of the “Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and Other Science and Technology Personnel in Government” or ‘The Magna Carta of Public Health Workers”, whichever is applicable.
In coordination with the DTI-Board of Investments and the Department of Finance, there shall be provided a tax holiday for the first FIVE (5) years to Filipino vaccine manufacturers covering the following: income, import duties on equipment and modular units including bioreactors, related materials including APIs, reagents, excipients, preservatives, and vials, containers and other packaging materials and export sales of locally-manufactured vaccines and biologicals whether in bulk or in finished form.
The DOH and Local Government Units (LGUs), together with its health facilities, offices, and hospitals, will preferentially purchase first from Filipino manufacturers ALL the vaccines required for its immunization programs. Should forecasted demand exceed the capacity of local production by Filipino manufacturers, the balance may be purchased by DOH and LGUs from foreign producers. The DOH and LGUs, together with its health facilities, offices, and hospitals, may procure vaccines through negotiated multi-year supply agreements with Filipino manufacturers.
A Vaccine Development Fund to be used exclusively for the purposes of this Act, shall be administered by the Authority following existing government budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations. The Fund shall be sourced from the following: The initial amount of Two Billion Pesos (P 2,000,000,000.00) to be taken from the current DOH fiscal year’s appropriation, in case the General Appropriation Act (GAA) was approved before this Act is enacted, otherwise the initial amount of Two Billion Pesos (P 2,000,000,000.00) shall be accordingly appropriated for the establishment of the Authority and initial implementation of the objectives; Grants, bequests, gifts, and donations consisting of such properties, real or personal, including funds and valuable effects or things, as may be useful, whether from local or foreign sources may be accepted provided that acceptance of grants, bequests, and donations from foreign governments shall be subject to the approval of the Office of the President upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the DOH.