April delivery of 117,000 doses of Pfizer jab from COVAX facility set – gov’t

FILE PHOTO: A vial of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is seen ahead of being administered at the Royal Victoria Hospital, on the first day of the largest immunization program in the British history, in Belfast, Northern Ireland December 8, 2020. Liam McBurney/Pool via REUTERS//File Photo

MANILA, Philippines — Some 117,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine from the World Health Organization (WHO)-led COVAX facility is expected to arrive in April, National Task Force against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon said Wednesday.

“Nag-commit na ang WHO na darating ‘yung 117,000 doses ng Pfizer ngayong Abril, sa susunod na buwan,” he said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

(The WHO has committed to deliver the 117,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine in April, which is next month.)

“Malaking bagay din ito lalung-lalo na para sa healthcare workers na priority natin mabakunahan sa Abril hanggang Mayo,” he added.

(This is a big deal especially as we aim to vaccinate health care workers from April until May.)

Doses of Pfizer vaccine from the COVAX facility were supposed to be delivered in mid-February but were delayed due to paperwork, particularly on indemnification agreement in case of post-vaccination side effects.

READ: Pfizer, Sinovac deliveries to PH face more delays

READ: PH submits indemnity deal to COVAX pool for Pfizer, AstraZeneca vaccines

READ: ‘Impasse’ on delivery of Pfizer vaccines cleared, as PH receives contract side letter — WHO

Dizon said the government aims to finish immunizing healthcare workers and senior citizens by mid-2021.

Aside from the Pfizer vaccine, the Philippines is also expected to receive one million doses of the jab developed by China’s Sinovac BioTech on March 21, Dizon said.

Another 400,000 doses of Sinovac’s CoronaVac, which was donated by the Chinese government, is also anticipated to arrive in the country this month.

When the bulk of vaccines arrive in the country, Dizon said the government plans to vaccinate around 250,000 to 300,000 individuals daily to achieve the target of 50 million vaccinations this year.

KGA