Galvez: 194,000 doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 shots seen arriving in May

FILE PHOTO: A nurse draws a Moderna coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine, at East Valley Community Health Center in La Puente, California, U.S., March 5, 2021. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will most likely receive 194,000 doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines in May, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Tuesday.

“It is expected to arrive, 194,000, most likely this coming May,” Galvez said when asked in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel about the expected arrival of the Moderna COVID-19 shots.

Galvez said it is up to the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group which priority group will receive these jabs.

“The private sector agrees they will follow the WHO SAGE [World Health Organization-Strategic Advisory Group of Experts] and also the DOH [Department of Health], NITAG prioritization,” Galvez said.

The government and the private sector have secured 20 million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines.

Under their tripartite agreement, the Philippine government secured 13 million doses of Moderna vaccines while the private sector ordered seven million doses for its workers.

Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration said Moderna will likely submit its application for an emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine this week.

JPV