Media Release:
PASIG CITY, February 27, 2021 — The Philippines will receive more than 1-million doses of anti-Covid vaccines beginning on Sunday, which officially jumpstarts the rollout of the national vaccine program.
Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr., National Task Force against Covid-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar confirmed this the day, Saturday.
“With the arrival of vaccines from Sinovac and AstraZeneca on Sunday and Monday, respectively, the country’s vaccine rollout formally starts,” Galvez said.
He said the 600,000 vaccine doses from Sinovac donated by the Chinese government are scheduled to reach the country by 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The arrival of the vaccines will be witnessed by no less President Rodrigo R. Duterte, Senator Bong Go, and other members of the Cabinet.
On Monday, the President will also welcome the arrival of 525,600 doses from AstraZeneca by noontime.
The doses from AstraZeneca is part of the COVAX facility led by the World Health Organization (WHO), which aims to inoculate 20% of the population.
According to Galvez, the initial doses of vaccines will be administered at Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and other major hospitals.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had earlier granted Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Sinovac an Emergency Use Utilization (EUA).
“Ito po ay isang pagpapatunay na ang lahat ng mga bakuna na ating ituturok sa ating mga kababayan ay ligtas at epektibo,” Galvez assured.
“Kaya’t hinihikayat po namin ang ating mga kababayang Pilipino na magparehistro na sa kanilang mga barangay at upang kayo ay makapagpabakuna na,” Galvez said.
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.
With 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. (✓)
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Featured image credit and thanks to Prasesh Shikoti and Unsplash.