Philippines secures 137 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines

Up to 137 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been secured by the government, according to vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez, and it comes from various vaccine brands that have already provided a supply commitment in the Philippines.

“Iyon po ang na ano po natin na maganda po ang negotiation natin kaya po secured na natin ang 137 million po na doses para next year. Puwede pong umakyat ‘yan na … sa 172,” Galvez said.

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He said that American Pfizer and China Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines are expected to arrive in the country first in February.

“Pfizer po maganda rin po ang ating negotiation. Dinagdagan po — puwede pong madagdagan ang ating allocation at isa siya sa pinakamalaki na makukuha po natin, more or less 25 to 40 million. At natutuwa po kami dahil kasi hindi po tayo iniwan ng Pfizer at may commitment po sila na baka magkaroon po pagka nagpirmahan po tayo baka hopefully, kung mayroon silang excess from US at other countries, pwede pong mai-deliver po ‘to sa atin,” said Galvez.

Philippines secures 137 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines

He also said that the government and the Serum Institute of India have already signed for Novovax COVID-19 vaccines for 30 million doses which will also come this year.

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The government is expected to sign for the UK AstraZeneca vaccine for the 17 million doses that are likely to arrive in the 2nd quarter of the year.

Johnson and Johnson from the United States are also in the final stages of approval of the agreement, he said, while there are ongoing negotiations to buy Moderna of America as well, including the private sector.

He said that the group of businessman Enrique Razon promised that he would use his ship and plane to bring Moderna vaccines to the Philippines.

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“Nag-e-explore po tayo na baka ang LGU rin po at saka po ‘yung mga private sector ay puwedeng ano, puwedeng kumuha po ng Moderna through the tripartite agreement. At nangako rin po si Sir Enrique Razon na kakalapin niya po ang mga business sector para makakuha po ng at least at a minimum mga 3 to 5 million po na doses para sa ating mga workers at donation po sa government,” said Galvez.