PH eyes to buy 148 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in 2021

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

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is aiming to purchase some 148 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines and inoculate at least 50 million Filipinos in 2021, National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Wednesday.

But Galvez noted that it would still depend on the global supply, noting that developed countries already secured 80 percent of the vaccines worldwide.

“Based on our current negotiations, we will be able to purchase at least 148 million doses from more or less seven manufacturers. However, it will be dependent on the global supply,” Galvez said in a televised briefing.

“Sa ilalim po ng Philippine National Vaccine roadmap, babakunahan po natin ang humigit kumulang 50 to 70 million na Filipino sa loob ng taong ito [we will vaccinate more or less 50 to 70 million Filipinos within the year],” he added.

Galvez said the Philippines is already in “advanced stages of negotiations” with pharmaceutical companies  Novavax, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, Sinovac and Gamaleya.

“We hope to close the deal with these companies this month,” he said.

Apart from these negotiations, Galvez said the Philippines is guaranteed to receive COVID-19 vaccines for 22 million Filipinos from the Covax Facility.

READ: COVID-19 vaccine under COVAX guaranteed for 20% of PH population — DOH 

The Covax Facility seeks to speed up the development, production and “equitable access” to coronavirus tests, COVID-19 treatments and vaccines.

JPV