FFCCCI head says poster offering Sinovac jabs for P2,000 not authorized

A poster bearing the logo of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated (FFCCCII) is offering Sinovac vaccines for P2,000 to the families of the group's members, according to Cedric Castillo's report on Unang Balita on Wednesday.

The price reportedly include logistics fees but exclusive of administrative fees.

The vaccination supposedly organized by FFCCCII will start in April in three hospitals.

But according to Dr Henry Lim Bon Liong, FFCCCII president, the poster was "not authorized by the federation."

"In fact, when we found out about it yesterday, we already requested to take it out because we are not reselling the vaccines," Liong said.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. confirmed that FFCCCII had coordinated with the national government regarding the purchase of Sinovac's vaccine CoronaVac.

Galvez, however, said Sinovac's vaccine cannot be sold commercially as it only secured emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.

"So the distribution and administration of that vaccine, will still be administered by the national government in coordination with the private sector and the LGU (local government unit)," Galvez said.

"The arrangement is they (FFCCCII) will buy Sinovac product for the purpose of donations," he added.

Section 5 of Republic Act 11525 states that "Private entities may procure COVID-19 vaccines only in cooperation with the [Department of Health] and the [National Task Force] through a multiparty agreement, which shall include the DOH and the relevant supplier of COVID-19 vaccine."

It also says that only the private entity can use the purchased vaccines.

Galvez said he would validate the reported vaccine pricing with the FFCCCII. "Kasi talaga pong dapat ang ano noon is para sa kanilang workers (because those vaccines are supposed to be for their workers)," he said.

Liong said the vaccines are for their employees and members.

Though aware that medical frontliners are the first priority in the vaccination, Liong said they would make a formal request to the government to include "economic frontliners" in the list of priorities.  —KBK, GMA News