FILE PHOTO: Vials with AstraZeneca’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine are seen at the vaccination center in the Newcastle Eagles Community Arena, in Newcastle upon Tyne, Britain, January 30, 2021. REUTERS/Lee Smith
MANILA, Philippines — Some 487,200 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines donated from the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility are now on their way to the Philippines from Belgium, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Thursday.
Galvez said the vaccines are expected to arrive in the country on Thursday night.
“We have information na lumipad na po yung eroplano and we’re confirming that it will arrive at 7:30 p.m.,” Galvez said in an interview over CNN Philippines.
“Ang pagkakaalam namin is from their Belgium warehouse,” he said when asked where the AstraZeneca vaccines will be coming from.
Galvez said there will be a ceremony for the arrival of the vaccines with President Rodrigo Duterte in attendance.
At least 525,600 doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccines were supposed to arrive in the Philippines on Monday, March 1, but were delayed due to “supply problems.”
Asked as to why the number of the AstraZeneca vaccine doses was reduced, Galvez explained it was because of cargo limitations as the vaccines will be delivered using a commercial flight.
“Meron tinatawag na mga packaging requirements and this is a commercial airline, kasama po may mga pasahero po ito so may restriction po tayo sa baggage…Considering na commercial, nagkaroon po siguro ng limitations sa cargo,” he said.