Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said that the Philippines may be able to immunize the entire Filipino population or at least its target population this year.
Galvez said that based on the supply and demand of vaccines around the globe, the country has a chance to inoculate its citizens within 2021.
“Based on global data, ‘yung 6 na approved na vaccine, ay meron silang kapasidad na more or less 10 billion na vaccine. At the same time, ‘yung trial data ng Phase 3, Novavax at J&J (Johnson & Johnson), may additional capacity na another 3.2 billion. So, more or less, meron po tayong total na 13.2 billion na capacity for 2021,” he said.
The vaccine czar said that the country is currently negotiating with 6 vaccine manufacturers, namely Novavax, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac, and Gamaleya.
Galvez however warned that the country will struggle to get its initial batches of COVID-19 vaccines on the first and second quarter of the year.
“Kasi karamihan po nung mga Western vaccine ay ginagamit po ng mga taga-Europe at America,” Galvez said.
He also said that based on available data, Of the 7.8 billion global population, 5.5 billion are adults. Of the 5.5 billion, 4 billion are willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
“So kung titingnan po natin ‘yung supply and demand sa 2021, may possibility po na ‘yung ating vaccination program ay makakaya po sa 2021,” he said.
Galvez also said that the Bureau of Customs will not hinder the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines.
“They will never intervene doon sa with the packaging,” he said. (TDT)
