Vaccine doses purchased by private sector administered

The administration of vaccines ordered by the private sector for workers and members of the Filipino-Chinese community is increasing after the arrival of the vaccine they procured in recent weeks.

In Parañaque, workers and members of the Filipino-Chinese community were given more than 500,000 doses of Sinovac ordered by a group of Filipino-Chinese businessmen.

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Virgilio Diaz and his co-workers lined up and got vaccinated.

“Kasi sabi ng boss lahat dapat ng trabahador magpabakuna, ‘yan ang protocol natin,” said Diaz.

Worker Imee De La Torre, along with her bosses, also lined up to be vaccinated.

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“Magiging protection po namin ito kasi frontliner kami sa essentials kailangan maging immune kami,” said De La Torre.

It is possible that Filipino-Chinese businessmen will have more orders if there is a shortage of vaccines.

Entrepreneurs are also ready to buy booster shots if the government orders them.

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“Booster? As far as we are concerned, kapag sinabi ng gobyerno na necessary ‘yan, we are willing to import more. The vaccine is no longer like any medical item, it’s now controlled by global power, we cannot just go to the drugstore and buy it, we need to join a tripartite agreement with government,” said Francis Chua, president of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Also read: Spread of COVID-19 in Eastern Samar often from gov’t offices

Vaccine doses purchased by private sector administered

The vaccination of Moderna vaccines ordered by another group of traders also started on Monday.

More than 1 million doses of AstraZeneca ordered by another group of traders are also expected to arrive this June.

The upcoming vaccines are all first doses.

“We are not keeping any dose from the vaccines arriving in July anyway. AstraZeneca naman needs 8 weeks to 3 months, so sa first batch pa lang mas marami na ang mababakunahan natin,” said Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion.

Entrepreneurs are also worried that the Delta or Delta Plus variant will enter the country.

Therefore, the group’s proposal is not to admit foreign tourists because only a few have been vaccinated.

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