By Alec Go
The first batch of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines composed of 194,000 doses is expected to arrive in the country next month, the government announced on Tuesday.
According to Vaccine Czar and National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., this is in accordance with the signing of supply agreement with the American pharmaceutical and biotechnology company.
“[Sa] Moderna po, mayroon po tayong 13 million doses sa government procurement at mayroon naman po tayong 7 million para sa private sector. [In terms of the deal with Moderna, we have 13 million doses under government procurement and 7 million doses for the private sector],” Sec. Galvez reported in a palace briefing.
“Napirmahan na rin po natin ang supply agreement at darating po ang first doses this coming May, 194,000 [The supply agreement has been signed and the first doses will be delivered this coming May, it’s a total of 194,000 doses],” Sec. Galvez added.
The official clarified that the 194,000 doses from Moderna are only part of the initial delivery which will be followed by the arrival of the majority of the order in the third and fourth quarter.
Aside from the first batch of Moderna vaccine, the Philippines is also expecting the delivery of 2 million doses from Sinovac Biotech and 2 million doses from Gamaleya Institute next month.
Moreover, Sec. Galvez said the expected delivery of 2 million doses for April remains “on time.” A total of 500,000 doses arrived on April 11 which will be followed by 500,000 doses on April 22 and another 500,000 doses on April 29.
“Ine-expect po natin na mayroon po tayong 500,000 na Gamaleya this coming April [We are also expecting 500,000 doses from Gamaleya this April],” he added.
The Philippines is expecting 148 million doses for the country to cover the inoculation of sectors included in the priority list to achieve herd immunity.
As of April 13 noon, at least 1,202,297 doses of CoronaVac and Gamaleya vaccines have been administered.
