Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said that the Philippine government may sign a deal with the British Swedish multinational and biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca by the end of this year for COVID-19 vaccine supply.
The United Kingdom has yet to issue a regulatory authorization for the vaccine according to Galvez.
Galvez told President Rodrigo Duterte, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government and AstraZeneca could sign a deal on Dec. 28 or 29 for 20 million and 10 million doses for the local governments and the private sector, respectively.
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The vaccine is just waiting for authorization from Britain’s Medicine and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency.
AstraZeneca pegged its price at only $5, or more or less P500 for two doses of the vaccine.
The vaccine was co-developed with the Oxford University’s Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group.
Galvez added that the government is also talking with the Serum Institute of India regarding the supply of another type of COVID-19 vaccine. A meeting for the manufacturer was scheduled on Wednesday.
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The Serum Institute of India promises to deliver 30 million doses. It will also comply with Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and will not ask for a cash advance.
The partnership will involve the development of the American vaccine Novavax Inc., and will later on manufactured in India.
“So all in all, if the signing pushes through, we will have 60 million doses for the second and third quarter,” Galvez said. (TDT)
