Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez said that they are looking at the month of May to formally launch the mass vaccination against COVID-19.
This is because the expected COVID-19 jabs are still set to arrive in the second quarter of 2021 due to supply issues and logistics.
Galvez said that the first batches of vaccines are meant to be administered to health workers. Vaccination for the general public may start once the allocation from the World Health Organization’s COVAX facility arrives in the country.
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“Nakikita natin na baka sa 2nd quarter natin makukuha ‘yun once na dumating na yung ibang vaccines from COVAX,” Galvez said in a press conference when asked when will the government start vaccinating regular individuals,” Galvez said.
“May ang pinaka-target natin,” he added. Galvez said that the government expects about 5.2 million to 9.5 million shots from COVAX are expected to arrive in the country by the 2nd quarter of 2021 and this will be augmented by vaccines arriving from Sinovac BioTech and AstraZeneca, and Novovax.
The government expects to finish its vaccination program to all healthcare workers in March.
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“Ang ginagawa natin sa negotiations, we are paying more, inaakyat namin ‘yung price to have them delivered here early kasi ‘yung price na iaakyat natin, ‘yung economic gains is more than enough to cover that prices,” the vaccine czar explained.
The Philippines officially rolls out its vaccination program on Monday following the donation of 600,000 doses of the Chinese made SInovac vaccines by the Chinese government. (TDT)
