By Pearl Gumapos
Set to arrive on Monday in the Philippines are 193,050 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines coming from the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility.
This is after a few months delay due to the lack of indemnification deal or agreement on who will be paying in case of adverse events.
The vaccines will arrive at around 9:00 p.m. at Terminal 2 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The shipment will be carried via DHL Express flight LD457.
Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the first batch of vaccines will be distributed in Metro Manila and other places with the right storage facility.
“The Pfizer vaccines will be distributed maybe in the NCR, in Metro Cebu, in Metro Davao City, and the other major cities that can handle the required temperature,” Duque said.
The Pfizer vaccines need to be stored in -80 to -60 degree Celsius.
The Pfizer vaccines supply will come from COVAX which is why the administration’s priority framework will be followed.
Among those eligible for the vaccine are health workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities.
Meanwhile, 1.1 million doses of Pfizer vaccines sent by the World Health Organization are expected to arrive.
-PG-rir
