1st COVID-19 vaccine shots in PH seen by end of February — Galvez

MANILA, Philippines — Some Filipinos might be vaccinated against COVID-19 by end of February, National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 chief and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Monday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said that the country would receive at least two COVID-19 vaccines as early as February.

Senator Panfilo Lacson then asked Galvez, during the hearing of the Senate Committee of the Whole, when the first COVID-19 vaccination would happen.

Galvez initially said it would be on February 20 but later clarified he was referring to the expected delivery of the vaccines.

“Ang tanong ko nga, kailan ‘yung unang bakuna? (My question is, when is the first vaccination?)” Lacson asked.

“…Para naman umasa ‘yung mga kababayan natin na sa February 28 or sa March 1 mababakunahan sila, pwede bang i-share mo lang sa amin kailan yung unang bakuna sa tantya mo?” he further asked.

(So that our countrymen can have hope that they could be vaccinated by February 28 or March 1, can you share with us when you think the first vaccination will be administered?)

At this point, Galvez told the committee that he expects the first vaccination in the Philippines to be on the “third or fourth week of February.”

JE