By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora / PNA
MANILA – The initial batch of government-procured Sputnik V vaccines has been shipped from Moscow and will arrive in Manila on May 1, Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta reported Thursday (April 29) night.
Sorreta said 15,000 doses were sent from Russia on April 29, with “more to come” in the next weeks and months.
“Great working with the DOH (Department of Health), DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), Special Envoy for Russia, and the other members of the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) to make this happen. Thank you to President (Vladimir) Putin, Foreign Minister (Sergey) Lavrov and Foreign Ministry officials, the Russian Direct Investment Fund, and the Gamaleya Institute for their cooperation, patience, and understanding. Thank you too to our hardworking Philippine Embassy Team,” he wrote on his social media account.
The delivery was supposed to arrive April 28 but was postponed due to the lack of a direct flight from Moscow to Manila.
The cold storage requirements also made it hard to transport the Russian vaccines because they must be stored at a temperature not exceeding -18 degrees Celsius.
Participating in the initial Sputnik V rollout are cities that meet this storage requirement: Manila, Taguig, Makati, Parañaque, and Muntinlupa. Each city will receive 3,000 doses each for the simulation activity.
Sorreta earlier said a total of 500,000 doses will be delivered within May and eventually about 20 million doses before the year ends.
He said the Gamaleya Research Institute is keen on manufacturing the shots locally by partnering with the private sector.
Sputnik V is the world’s first registered vaccine, with a 91.6% efficacy against coronavirus disease 2019 as validated by internationally peer-reviewed data published in the medical journal The Lancet. (PNA) -jlo
