Arrival of 1M Covid-19 vaccines to formally start PH inoculation rollout — Galvez
MANILA, Philippines — The arrival of over one million doses of vaccines beginning Sunday afternoon “formally starts” the government’s vaccination program, which was earlier eyed to begin in February.
“With the arrival of vaccines from Sinovac and AstraZeneca on Sunday and Monday, respectively, the country’s vaccine rollout formally starts,” vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said in a statement late Saturday.
He said the 600,000 vaccine doses from Sinovac donated by the Chinese government are scheduled to reach the country by 5pm on Sunday.
Meanwhile, 525,600 doses of Covid-19 vaccine developed by British-Swede pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca are expected to be delivered in the Philippines on Monday, March 1.
The AztraZeneca delivery is part of the first round of allocated doses from the World Health Organization-led Covax facility.
Both deliveries will be personally welcomed by President Rodrigo Duterte, according to officials.
The chief executive has ordered the first round of vaccinations to begin in the first week of March, his former aide, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said.
According to Galvez, the initial doses of vaccines will be administered at Philippine General Hospital and other major hospitals.
The Food and Drug Administration had so far granted Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Sinovac an emergency use authorization.
“Ito po ay isang pagpapatunay na ang lahat ng mga bakuna na ating ituturok sa ating mga kababayan ay ligtas at epektibo,” Galvez said.
(This is proof that all the vaccines we will administer to the public are safe and effective.)
The vaccine czar encouraged the public to register in their respective localities for their inoculation.
“Kaya’t hinihikayat po namin ang ating mga kababayang Pilipino na magparehistro na sa kanilang mga barangay at upang kayo ay makapagpabakuna na,” he said.
(I’m urging every Filipino to register in their villages so that they can get vaccinated.)
He noted that the Philippine government continues to negotiate with multiple vaccine makers as part of its portfolio strategy and acquire 148 million vaccine doses to inoculate 70 million adult Filipinos.
Meanwhile, Galvez welcomed the passage of the Covid-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, which seeks to expedite the procurement and administration of Covid-19 vaccines in the country as well as establish a national indemnity fund.
“With the passage of this landmark law which provides flexibility and indemnity in the procurement and administration of the vaccines, we shall be able to accelerate the implementation of our national vaccination program and finally put an end to this health crisis and revive our nation’s economy,” he said.
JE
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