38,400 more AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines arrive in PH

FILE PHOTO: Vials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is seen in the fridge of a doctor’s office in Gouzeaucourt as part of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination campaign in France, February 24, 2021. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol

MANILA, Philippines — Some 38,400 doses of vaccines developed by British-Swede pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca arrived in the Philippines on Sunday, the National Task Force against COVID-19 said.

TINGNAN: Lumapag na sa Pilipinas ang eroplanong may dalang 38,400 doses ng AstraZeneca anti-COVID vaccines. Ito po ay parte ng unang batch na galing sa COVAX facility. #COVID19PH #WeHealAsOnePH #COVIDvaccinePH #ExplainExplainExplain pic.twitter.com/n2YACqVazt

— National Task Force Against COVID19 (@ntfcovid19ph) March 7, 2021

These vaccines were from the World Health Organization (WHO)-led COVAX facility, a global vaccine pool that ensures equitable access to COVID-19 jabs in developing countries.

The additional AstraZeneca vaccines are part of the 525,600 doses promised by the COVAX facility to the Philippines.

But on March 4, only 487,200 doses arrived in the country.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. had explained this was due to the cargo limitations as the vaccines were transported via a commercial flight.

The Philippines is expecting to receive at least 5.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility in the first quarter of the year.

/MUF