The first batch of 562,770 doses of the government-procured 40 million Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines arrived in the country today (July 21).
The shipment of 459,610 Pfizer doses transported on board DHL Flight LD 457 from Brussels, Belgium arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 past 8:00 p.m.
Prior to its arrival, the DHL cargo plane landed in Cebu to unload 51,480 doses. Around 51,500 doses will also be delivered from Manila to Davao on July 22.
The country initially received 2.4 million Pfizer doses through the COVAX facility. The vaccines have since been transported directly to Visayas and Manila to shorten shipping and handling duration.
The delivery in Manila was witnessed by vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. and other government officials. The ceremony was followed by the vaccines’ transport to the PharmaServ storage facility in Marikina.
“Ang babagsakan nito, ‘yung LGUs (local government units) na nakita nating qualified na may cold chain solution. Majority ay NCR (National Capital Region) Plus 8 and LGUs that have training sa cold chain solution,” Galvez said.
Galvez said seafarers will also be prioritized in this vaccine batch, adding that arrangements have already been made. More batches of the highly sensitive vaccine will be delivered on July 26 and during the first week of August.
This is the first batch of the 40 million Pfizer vaccines procured by the government from the American pharmaceutical firm after signing a supply agreement last month.
Handling
Select LGUs will also receive Pfizer vaccines for the first time and will conduct a trial run to test if they are capable of receiving, handling, and conducting mass inoculation.
These include Puerto Princesa, Legazpi, Naga, General Santos City, Butuan City, and Lanao Del Sur. The government is also targeting Cagayan de Oro, a high-risk area with Delta variant cases.
Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said the different regions’ capabilities to handle temperature-sensitive vaccines such as Pfizer have been improving. Galvez, however, said there is still room for improvement, especially in rural LGUs and Soccsksargen.
Galvez said Moderna, Pfizer, and Sputnik V supplies will remain in the country’s inventory by the fourth quarter amid the expected CoronaVac supply depletion by August. These vaccines require ultralow temperatures ranging from -18 to -80 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, LGUs with reported “mishandling” of the vaccines will not yet be included in the allocation.
The National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 assured the readiness of safe vaccine transport despite the prevailing rainy season. The deployment is expected to begin on July 22. – Report from Naomi Tiburcio/AG-jlo
Watch full report here:
