The sixth batch of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines from Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech arrived in the country on Thursday morning.
The 500,000 Sinovac vaccine doses were purchased by the Philippine government. The fifth batch, composed also of 500,000 doses, arrived on April 22.
The vaccines were delivered via a chartered Cebu Pacific flight from China.
The Philippines has received a total of 3.5 million doses of Sinovac vaccine called CoronaVac, including those donated by the Chinese government.
The latest batch was disinfected after arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. It would be brought to a storage facility in Marikina City.
According to the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluation of Sinovac’s vaccine, it has the following efficacy rates:
- 65% to 91% among healthy individuals aged 18 to 59,
- 50.4% for health workers, and
- 51% to 52% on senior citizens or those aged 60 and above
Sinovac’s vaccine is given in two doses.
Vaccination against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been temporarily suspended in some cities in Laguna province due to lack of supply.
Sixth batch of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines arrive in PH
In Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, vaccination was stopped two weeks ago due to no new allocation coming.
According to Sta. Rosa Mayor Arlene Arcillas, only those in the A1 category or healthcare workers were vaccinated for the first dose.
Some 2,000 doses arrived but it was said to be for the second dose.
Meanwhile, there is also no vaccination taking place in Calamba. According to mayor Timmy Chipeco, there is also a shortage of their vaccine supply for the first twelve.
The only vaccine available in the city now is 4,000 doses for the second dose.
Based on the Department of Health’s tally, the country has 1,020,495 COVID-19 cases as of April 28, of which 67,769 are considered “active” cases.
Meanwhile, the number of recoveries was at 935,695 and the death toll at 17,031 as of April 28.
DOH said that as of April 21, 1,562,563 vaccine doses have been given.
Of that number, 1,353,107 received the first doses while 209,456 were given the second dose.
Up to 3,025,600 vaccines have arrived in the country and have been distributed to various local governments in the country.
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