Procured 1-M doses of CoronaVac arrive in PH

The 1-M million doses of Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccines the Philippines bought arrive at Villamor Air Base. Photo courtesy po of Presidential Communications Operations Office – Office of the Global Media and Public Affairs (PCOO-OGMPA)

MANILA, Philippines — One million doses of Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccines, CoronaVac, arrived in the Philippines on Monday.

The Philippine Airlines aircraft carrying the vaccines landed at the Villamor Air Base past 5 p.m.

President Rodrigo Duterte, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, and Senate health committee chair Senator Bong Go welcomed the arrival of the vaccines.

“The arrival of these vaccines is very timely. As we finish vaccinating healthcare frontliners, we will be able to use this new batch of purchased CoronaVac vaccines to extend vaccination to vulnerable Filipinos—or those with pre-existing conditions and comorbidities—who are at most risk of severe COVID-19 and highest chance of dying,” Duque said in a statement.

Photo courtesy po of Presidential Communications Operations Office – Office of the Global Media and Public Affairs (PCOO-OGMPA)

The Philippines has begun simultaneously vaccinating health workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities.

Galvez said the Philippines is expecting more doses of vaccines in the coming months, with 1.5 million more CoronaVac in April.

“Sa Sinovac, may darating na 1.5 million pa this coming April and then 2 million this coming May and then 4.5 million sa June,” Galvez said in an interview at the arrival of the vaccines.

Photo courtesy po of Presidential Communications Operations Office – Office of the Global Media and Public Affairs (PCOO-OGMPA)

(For Sinovac, 1.5 million more doses will arrive this coming April, and then 2 million more this coming May and 4.5 million in June.)

“At sa succeeding months hanggang December, meron po tayong matatanggap na 20 million,” he added.

(In the succeeding months until December, we will receive 20 million more doses.)

In an earlier press briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the one million doses of CoronaVac cost P700 million.

This is the first batch of vaccines procured by the government to arrive in the country. Previously, the Chinese government or the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility donated COVID-19 vaccines.

Overall, the Philippines secured 25 million doses from Sinovac which will arrive in tranches monthly until the end of this year.

READ: PH to buy 25 million doses from China’s CoronaVac

abc