Duterte designated vaccine czar, but not yet publicly disclosed – Palace

October 26, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte has actually designated a vaccine czar only that it was not publicly announced yet, Malacanang said on Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement after Senator Ralph Recto suggested that a vaccine czar should be named to handle the issues on importation of coronavirus disease vaccines once these are available.

"The suggestion is very well-taken. In fact, two months ago, I recall the President has already appointed a vaccine czar. However, the appointed vaccine czar was hesitant when I asked him if I could remind the public that he has been designated as vaccine czar because the President may have forgotten about it," he said in a virtual press briefing.

"So, he would like to wait for the President to make the announcement anew," he added.

As suggested by Recto, he said the vaccine czar would make sure that the country has the capability to import and distribute the vaccines, including provisions of cold storage.

According to manufacturers that have been working on the vaccines, there should be cold storage facilities for the vaccines to ensure that their effectiveness would be maintained.

Roque said the "ball is rolling" for the provision of cold storage.

Meanwhile, Lulu Bravo, the executive director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination and professor emeritus at the College of Medicine-University of the Philippines-Manila, in the same press briefing proposed that the government create a National Immunization Technical Advisory Group.

She said NITAG will be independent of the Department of Health. It will be composed of multidisciplinary scientists who will help in deciding which COVID-19 vaccine to be used and who will first be given the shots.

Bravo said their group have proposed the creation of NITAG to Congress.

She hoped Duterte would issue an order creating the body similar to the United States. Celerina Monte/DMS