Private sector talks with AstraZeneca for booster shots – Concepcion

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential adviser for entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion said the private sector has initiated talks with AstraZeneca after securing the go-signal from the pandemic task force to procure vaccines to be used as booster shots next year.

Go Negosyo said it organized a meeting attended by more than 350 companies from the private sector with officials of AstraZeneca yesterday for initial plans to procure COVID-19 vaccines for next year.

During the meeting, Concepcion shared that the private sector has been given the go-ahead by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to procure vaccines.

This comes as many countries are now trying to secure more vaccines as new variants of the virus are making it necessary to get booster shots.

Earlier, the private sector and local government units purchased vaccines through a tripartite agreement entered into with AstraZeneca and the national government and under Go Negosyo’s A Dose of Hope program.

Delivery of the vaccines purchased is expected to be completed by Dec. 27. Concepcion said the supply is sufficient to fulfill the country’s vaccine needs for the first half of 2022.

Under the new agreement in the works with AstraZeneca, there will be a slight increase in the price of the COVID-19 doses which will already include shipping cost.

In addition, an upfront payment or security deposit will no longer be required by AstraZeneca.

AstraZeneca updating against variants

Go Negosyo said AstraZeneca revealed it is currently working on an updated version of its vaccine called AZD2816 to address the variant strains of SARS-CoV-2 .

The AZD2816 still uses the same adenoviral vector platform, but now contains ten changes across the spike protein, many of which are also seen in other variants of concern.

The new version of the vaccine can also be used as a primary dose.

AstraZeneca country president Lotis Ramin said that the private sector can choose to switch their orders to the new vaccine variant.

She also said orders should be made as early as possible to be assured of supply as many other countries are also securing jabs for next year.

AstraZeneca estimates the new version of the vaccine would be available in the second half of next year and deliveries will be done on a quarterly basis.

For now, Concepcion emphasized the urgent need to take action to sustain the gains.

He said private sector employees need to be given protection against the virus, especially between the time the efficacy of the initial doses received begins to wane and when boosters are administered.

“I would rather put it in the arm of an employee rather than have it stay in storage,” he said.

Low chance of December surge

Data and medical experts have said that the probability of a surge happening in the Philippines before the year ends is very low, and that while the country may experience one in January, it will not likely be similar to previous surges.

“The question is sustaining this beyond Christmas,” said Concepcion, stressing that “what we are aiming for is a great 2022.”

Former Department of Health (DOH) secretary Esperanza Cabral agreed with Concepcion’s optimism over the country’s situation for the remainder of 2021.

“We must continue to reopen the economy, to isolate and quarantine, to test and trace, to vaccinate, and to acquire the anti-COVID drugs,” she said.

“The efforts of the private sector, with the support of the IATF, have led us to this place,” said Concepcion. “Business has bounced back to 70 to 80 percent pre-pandemic levels, and I am confident we already have a plan in place.”

He said foresight and a pro-active stance are now resulting in historic lows in the number of COVID cases in the country.

The same foresight, he said, can serve well in securing vaccines for 2022. “Things will change. That’s why we need to VAX to the MAX or else our family bubbles and our business bubbles will weaken,” he said.

Target: 99 M vaccinated by June 2022

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the government is aiming to vaccinate at least 99 million Filipinos against COVID-19 before the Duterte administration ends in June 2022.

“The President’s marching order is to inoculate no less than 90 percent of the Philippine population, which is equivalent to about 99 million Filipinos, before the end of the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” Duque said at yesterday’s Bayanihan, Bakunahan: National COVID-19 Vaccination Days Culmination Activity.

Based on the National COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard as of Dec. 8, a total of 39,560,598 individuals have already completed their vaccination out of the 94,236,990 doses administered since March 1, 2021.

Also, 54,033,022 people have received their first doses while 643,370 others received their booster shot or third dose. – Sheila Crisostomo, Neil Jayson Servallos, Rudy Santos