China so far vaccinates over 40M residents — ambassador

MANILA, Philippines — China has so far vaccinated over 40 million of its residents against COVID-19, including Filipinos serving in the medical field, Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana said Tuesday.

“As of last week, the Chinese authorities reported that there were over 40 million Chinese who have been administered the vaccine doses made by two Chinese vaccine manufacturers, Sinovac at saka (plus) Sinopharm,” he said in a Palace briefing.

“Mayroon nang ilang Pilipino na nagkaroon ng bakuna (there are some Filipinos who have been vaccinated),” he said.

He did not say how many Filipinos got vaccinated but said some recently vaccinated workers are employed in hospitals.

So far, there were no monitored deaths and adverse effects have been minimal.

“Hardly any report of deaths, or any death if at all, adverse events are very few. It’s basically gone smoothly for the Chinese,” Sta. Romana said.

Among those vaccinated were from high-risk sectors such as those working in the medical fields, airport personnel, those working in transportation, hotel and services and Chinese residents who plan to go abroad for study or work.

The Chinese government is aiming to reach 50 million vaccinations within the week, Sta. Romana said.

The Chinese drugmakers have ramped up their vaccine production to address the supply and demand domestically and internationally.

Sta. Romana said the drugmakers have shipped out 46 million doses of the vaccine to over 50 countries, including Indonesia, Turkey, and Brazil.

Over 600,000 doses of Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine are expected to be delivered to the Philippines on Feb. 23, Malacañang earlier said.

READ: Palace: 600,000 doses of Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine arriving on Feb. 23

Sta. Romana said the Philippines is “pretty high” of China’s priority list for vaccine supply, assuring that doses promised to the Philippine government would be delivered “as scheduled and as promised.”

The Philippines has secured 25 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines developed by Sinovac to be delivered to the country within the year.

“We are high in their priority list of the government in terms of supplying the vaccines, so that is why we have a high level of confidence that this will happen,” he said.

READ: PH secures 25-M COVID vaccines from China’s Sinovac

ac