FILE PHOTO: An ampule labeled “vaccine” is seen in front of an AstraZeneca logo in this illustration taken, September 9, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic
MANILA, Philippines — Caloocan City has signed an agreement with British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca for the advance purchase of at least 600,000 doses of its coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine.
On his official Facebook page, Caloocan City Mayor Oca Malapitan said the development is part of the local government’s efforts to pursue its planned COVID-19 vaccination program.
“Nakikipag-ugnayan tayo sa mga pharmaceutical company upang matiyak na makakakuha tayo ng bakuna pag ito ay aprubado na ng Inter-Agency Task Force at Food and Drug Administration,” Malapitan said.
(We are coordinating with pharmaceutical companies to make sure that we will get vaccines once it is approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force and the Food and Drug Administration.)
This comes after Malapitan announced on Jan. 4 that city residents are assured of free COVID-19 vaccines this year.
Malapitan earlier said the Caloocan City government has set aside P125 million for the inoculation of city residents.
According to Malapitan, they are also considering the allocation of an additional P1 billion for the initiative which they intend to obtain through a loan.
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