PH assured of 30M dosages of Indian-made Novavax vaccine —Locsin

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has been assured of at least 30 million dosages of Indian-made Novavax coronavirus vaccine which may become available by July 2021, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Monday.

In an interview over CNN Philippines, Locsin said the deal may be signed before the year ends. He added that the information came from the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine producer.

“Thirty million dosages of the Indian-made Novavax vaccines are assured possibly with no cash advance. It will be available by July 2021,” Locsin said.

“The term sheet might be signed before the year ends,” he added.

American vaccine developer Novavax Inc. had entered into an agreement with Serum Institute of India for the development and commercialization of its COVID-19 vaccine.

READ: Indian vaccine maker vows PH access to COVID-19 vaccine once available

So far, the Philippines has already secured over two million dosages of coronavirus vaccines from British drugmaker AstraZeneca through a tripartite agreement it signed with the private sector.

The government is also looking into the vaccines of China’s Sinovac Biotech, Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute, and Moderna and Pfizer of the United States.

In the same interview, Locsin announced that vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. will start negotiations with Moderna on or before Dec. 30.

JE