Reasons For The Philippines Prioritizing Vaccines For China And Russia Over Western Countries

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

JAKARTA - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he would prioritize the purchase of vaccines from China and Russia over vaccines from western countries. Rodrigo admits that he has strong reasons behind it.

On that occasion, Duterte also mentioned that pharmaceutical companies from western countries asked for advances for their offers. "We will prioritize Russia and China as long as their vaccines are as good as other vaccines on the market," he said, in a speech, quoted on Tuesday, September 15.

Duterte said he was optimistic that with the Russian and Chinese vaccines, his country, which has now recorded 266,000 cases, will return to normal in December. Therefore, the Philippines is now continuing to communicate with vaccine producers from the two countries.

Duterte said that every vaccine that the Philippines will buy must go through a bidding process later. "One good thing about China is that we don't have to beg, we don't have to beg," he said. "One bad thing about western countries, is that it's all about making a profit, profit, profit."

Duterte further revealed that Moscow and Manila agreed to carry out clinical trials of vaccines made in Russia. Duterte did not specify which companies asked for the down payment, but he warned their representatives in Manila to go home or "I'll kick it."

Duterte said the Philippine procurement law prohibits the government from buying anything that does not yet exist or has not been produced. "They want us to pay for their research and vaccine improvements," said the president. "They want a down payment before they send the vaccine. If it's like that, we could all die."

Previously, apart from China and Russia, the Philippines had a chance to talk with US drug manufacturers Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc. The Philippines also met with Australian biotech giant CLS Ltd regarding vaccine procurement.