Philippines to prioritise coronavirus vaccine supply from Russia or China

MANILA, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo
Duterte vowed on Monday to prioritise buying COVID-19 vaccine to
be made available by Russia or China, while taking a swipe at
pharmaceutical firms of western nations asking for advance
payment for their offers.
Duterte has expressed optimism that the Southeast Asian
country, which has recorded the region's highest number of
coronavirus cases at nearly 266,000, would be "back to normal"
by December, pinning his hopes on the availability of vaccines.
"We will give preference to Russia and China provided that
their vaccine is as good as any other in the market," he said in
a late-night televised address.
Any vaccine purchase by the Philippines, however, will have
to undergo bidding process, he said.
The Philippine government has had talks with a number of
potential vaccine suppliers, including Russia, China, U.S.
drugmaker Pfizer Inc PFE.N and Moderna Inc MRNA.O . It also
planned to hold talks with Australian biotech giant CSL Ltd
CSL.AX . Duterte singled out China, which he said was unlike other
countries seeking "reservation fee" or advance payment.
"The one good thing about China is you do not have to beg,
you do not have to plead," he said. "One thing wrong about the
western countries, it's all profit, profit, profit."
Moscow and Manila have agreed to work on clinical trials for
Russia's vaccine.
Duterte did not name any pharmaceutical companies seeking
advance payment, but he warned their representatives in Manila
to go home or "I'll kick your ass".
He said the Philippines' procurement law prohibits the
government from buying anything that is non-existent or has yet
to be produced.
"They want you to finance their research and the perfection
of the vaccine," he said. "They want cash advance before they
deliver the vaccine. If that's the case, then all of us will
die."