Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the first batch of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines is expected to arrive in the Philippines next month.
This was after Duque announced that the national government secured some 25 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese firm Sinovac.
“We sealed the deal with Sinovac for 25 million with early 50,000 doses by February, 950,000 by March, and 2 to 3 million in succeeding months ’til December with 25 million doses. This is in addition to AstraZeneca as confirmed by Sec. Galvez,” he was quoted as saying in a report by Mai Bermudez on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.
Last month, Malacañang said the Philippines’ top choice for a COVID-19 vaccine is still China’s Sinovac despite the firm’s “bribery history.”
“Consistent po tayo na papayagan lang nating magamit ang mga bakuna na napatunayan nang ligtas at mabisa laban sa COVID-19,” Roque told reporters.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. last week said the Philippines targets to administer COVID-19 vaccines to 50 to 70 million Filipinos this year.
“We hope to close the deal with these companies this month,” he said.
Also read: FDA evaluating China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine
First batch of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines to arrive next month – Duque
Other government officials earlier said that the Philippines was supposed to get 10 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, but “somebody dropped the ball.”
Senator Panfilo Lacson then revealed that Health Secretary Francisco Duque’s failure cost the Philippines 10 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
“Thus, they could have secured the delivery of 10 million Pfizer vaccines as early as January next year, way ahead of Singapore but for the indifference of Sec Duque who failed to work on the necessary documentary requirement namely, the Confidentiality Disclosure Agreement (CDA) as he should have done,” the senator said in a statement.
Lacson said Pfizer’s representative in the country was even following up on submitting such documentary requirements.
However, Duque said the confidentiality disclosure agreement (CDA) with Pfizer was supposed to be signed by the Office of President (OP) and not by the Department of Health (DOH). He said Pfizer wanted OP, through the Executive Secretary (ES), to sign the CDA.