The Philippines is set to receive more than 1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccines starting today, February 28 to begin the national vaccionation program in the country.
Philippine Vaccine Czar and National Task Force against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. stated that the first two vaccines to arrive in the country will be Sinovac and AstraZeneca.
President Duterte himself will welcome the arrival of 600,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine donated by the Chinese government today, Sunday at around 5:00 pm PH time (1:00 pm UAE time).
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The President will also witness the arrival of 525,600 doses of the vaccine manufactured by AstraZeneca on Monday, March 1 at around 12:00 noon.
The doses from AstraZeneca is part of the WHO-led COVAX facility, which aims to inoculate 15-20% of the entire Philippine population.
Earlier, the Food and Drug Administration has already granted the Emergency Use Authorization to Sinovac, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer.
“Ito po ay isang pagpapatunay na ang lahat ng gma bakuna na ating ituturok sa ating mga kababayan ay ligtas at epektibo,” said Sec. Galvez.
“Kaya’t hinihikayat po namin ang ating mga kababayang Pilipino na magparehistro na sa kanilang mga barangay at upang kayo ay makapagpabakuna na,” he added.
He said that the Philippine government continues to negotiate with multiple vaccine makers as part of its portfolio strategy and acquire 148 million vaccine doses to inoculate 70 million adult Filipinos.
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With President Rodrigo Duterte signing the COVID-19 Vaccination Act of 2021 on Friday, the Chief Implementer said he is confident that the government will be able to speed up the procurement and delivery of anti-COVID vaccines.
“With the passage of this landmark law which provides flexibility and indemnity in the procurement and administration of the vaccines, we shall be able to accelerate the implementation of our national vaccination program and finally put an end to this health crisis and revive our nation’s economy,” Galvez said.
The Vaccine Czar also thanked the President, Senator Bong Go and both houses of Congress led by Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto III and House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco for the swift passage of the law.
