3.5M doses of AstraZeneca, Sinovac jabs expected to arrive by weekend

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go during the hearing of the Senate health committee on Thursday. Screengrab from the Senate YouTube livestream

MANILA, Philippines — Two million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine under the COVAX facility, and 1.5 million procured doses of Sinovac’s vaccine are expected to arrive in the country by the end of the week.

This was announced by Senator Christopher “Bong” Go during Thursday’s hearing of the Senate health committee.

The additional doses of the CoronaVac vaccine purchased by the government from China’s Sinovac are expected to be delivered by Friday, May 7, according to Go.

“I welcome the expected arrival of additional doses of vaccines against COVID-19.  This means that more people, particularly our frontliners and vulnerable sectors, will be given the necessary protection. Bukas ay inaasahan nating darating na ang 1.5 milyong doses ng Sinovac,” he said.

Meanwhile, the delivery of two million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine to the country is expected on Saturday afternoon, May 8, the senator added.

So far, the Philippines has received over 500,000 doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine under the COVAX facility as well as 3.5 million doses of the CoronaVac jab, one million of which were donated by the Chinese government.