‘Over 500 companies interested in Novavax vaccines’

MANILA, Philippines — Over 500 companies are interested in the possible procurement of coronavirus vaccines from American firm Novavax, an adviser of President Duterte revealed yesterday.

Presidential adviser for entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion said representatives from these companies are joining today’s briefing with Faberco Life Sciences Inc., the distributor of Novavax in the country.

Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine has an 89.3 percent efficacy rate.

Faberco, which will handle the vaccine orders from the national government and local government units, has tapped United Laboratories Inc. (Unilab) for the procurement of the private sector.

“Now, with Novavax, they have offered our country an equitable and great offer and I am encouraging the private sector to look at this developing initiative,” Concepcion said.

Earlier, Go Negosyo played a crucial role in making the tripartite agreement between the private sector, government and AstraZeneca for the procurement of vaccines possible.

The first tripartite agreement which involved the purchase of 2.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the private sector from AstraZeneca was inked in November last year.

Last month, the second deal for the supply of 15 million doses of vaccines was signed with AstraZeneca.

“Luckily, we have already secured our doses with AstraZeneca. We are fortunate that (AstraZeneca Philippines country president) Lotis Ramin and the whole of AstraZeneca in the Philippines has done their utmost effort just to secure the doses for the country,” Concepcion said.

The presidential adviser said he would continue to find ways to secure vaccines for the country given the country’s big demand and lauded the partnership between Unilab and Faberco in reeling in Novavax.

Meanwhile, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the vaccine committee has called for the suspension of consolidation of orders for COVID-19 vaccines from small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

In a Viber message to reporters, he said: “There will be more than enough government purchases and current tripartite agreements to cover vaccination of all frontliners, including the economic frontliners and workers.”

Last month, Lopez said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) began helping businesses interested in procuring COVID-19 vaccines by consolidating orders upon the request of government vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. It has received orders from 10 SMEs.

“Now, it’s the time for every qualified Filipino to respond to this call of duty and take the vaccine,” Concepcion said. “We will serve like soldiers in this war and our gun is the vaccine. If everyone suits up, we will be able to beat COVID-19 and open up the economy much more – allowing industries who have been greatly affected like the tourism, retail and restaurant sector, among others, to come back.”