Rollout of Chinese, Russian COVID vaccines in PH could be Q1 of 2021 — Galvez

Presidential Peace adviser and concurrent National Task Force COVID-19 Response Chief Implementor Carlito Galvez Jr. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The COVID-19 vaccines from China and Russia may be rolled out in the country as early as the first quarter of next year, the Philippines’ vaccine czar said Wednesday.

According to COVID-19 policy chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., who is also the designated vaccine czar, the vaccines being developed by Sinovac Biotech and Gamaleya Research Institute may even reach Philippine ground first before the vaccine of British drugmaker AstraZeneca which recently signed a supply agreement with the government and the private sector.

“Based on our initial negotiations if ever we will close a deal this December, it will give them only 60 days to 90 days to prepare and ship the vaccine,” Galvez said during the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

“Meaning, we can foresee a better scenario that we can get the vaccine on the first quarter. Maybe on March or late February,” he added.

The former military general likewise pointed out that Sinovac pledged to take care of their vaccine’s shipment and distribution.

The coronavirus vaccines from Sinovac and Gamaleya are among the four brands which the government said it will procure. The other two are the vaccines of AstraZeneca and Pfizer from the United States.

The four drugmakers have already applied to conduct Phase 3 of clinical trials of their respective vaccines here in the country. Sinovac and fellow Chinese firm Clover Biopharmaceuticals are the first ones to pass the evaluation of the country’s vaccine experts panel. They are now seeking the approval of the Single Joint Research Ethics Board as well as the Food and Drug Administration.

JPV