File labelled “Sputnik V coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine”, March 24, 2021. REUTERS / Dado Ruvic
MANILA, Philippines — The arrival of 15,000 doses of Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine will be delayed and is expected to arrive in May, Malacañang said Wednesday.
“We confirm that logistical challenges resulted in the delay of the arrival of 15,000 trial order of Sputnik V,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
These challenges, Roque said, include the absence of direct flights from Russia to the Philippines and the vaccine’s cold storage requirements.
Sputnik V should be stored in a dark place with a temperature not exceeding -18 degrees Celsius.
The initial batch of vaccines developed by the Gamaleya Institute of Russia was slated to arrive in the Philippines this Wednesday night.
“Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez has taken steps to address these challenges and aims to receive the initial order of the Russian in the month of May instead,” Roque said.
In a separate statement, Galvez said: “We will update the public as soon as we receive advice from the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) regarding the final delivery date of the initial doses of Sputnik V.”
The first batch of Russian vaccines would be distributed in Metro Manila.
On top of the initial batch, the Philippines is also expecting 485,000 more doses of Sputnik V on April 29, but Malacañang did not say if its delivery will still push through.