The first batch of 15,000 doses of government-procured Russian-developed Sputnik V vaccine arrived in the country on Saturday afternoon (May 1).
Flight QR932 carrying the doses landed at the NAIA Terminal 3 at 3:50 p.m. today, earlier than the expected arrival of 4:40 p.m.
LOOK: The initial order of the Sputnik V Russian COVID-19 vaccines arrives in the Philippines.
This is the test order…
Posted by Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines) on Saturday, May 1, 2021
According to vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., the processing of the arrival of the first batch will guide the delivery of the next shipment of 485,000 doses this month.
“Gusto ng Russia na talagang bago tayo magkaroon ng huge volume, alam na natin kung paano i-handle,” Galvez said.
This is the first vaccine received by the Philippines that requires subzero storage temperature or at around -18 degrees Celsius. The two-dose vaccine has a reported efficacy rate of 91.6%.
The vaccines were immediately brought to PharmaServ warehouse in Marikina at 5:30 p.m. They will be delivered to Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Taguig, Manila, and Makati in the coming days.
This initial scheduled shipment was delayed due to logistical issues, including the absence of direct flights from Moscow to Philippines. The vaccine deal with Russia’s Gamaleya Institute covers the delivery of 20 million doses. – Report from Karen Villanda, Patrick de Jesus/AG-jlo
