PH Red Cross orders 2.2M doses of Covid-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca, Moderna

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has ordered a total of 2.2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines from British drugmaker AstraZeneca and American biotechnology company Moderna, its chairman said Wednesday.

“Nag-order ako, kung pwede, sa malalaking kumpanya. Katulad nitong AstraZeneca, 2 million. Moderna, 200,000,” PRC chairman Senator Richard Gordon said in an interview over Teleradyo.

(I ordered from big companies. Like AstraZeneca, 2 million. Moderna, 200,000.)

“At may kakausapin pa kaming ibang tao,” he added.

(We will also be talking to other people.)

Earlier, the senator said that the PRC is also eyeing to secure vaccine doses from Pfizer.

In its vaccination drive, Gordon said the PRC would allow vaccinees to donate for the vaccination of those who cannot afford the anti-Covid shots.

“Yung can afford, magbabakuna siya. Yung mahirap bibigyan niya ng pambakuna,” he added.

(Those who can afford, if they will get vaccinated, they can donate for the poor.)

Only Pfizer and AstraZeneca have so far secured an emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Three companies are still waiting for their EUA approval from the FDA namely Russia’s Gamaleya Institute, China’s Sinovac, and India’s Bharat Biotech.

The Philippine government has already secured 108 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines after it signed five term sheets with different vaccine manufacturers, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said.

EDV