This photo shows the arrival of 1 million doses of China-made vaccine from Sinovac Biotech on July 14, 2021. Screenshot from PTV
MANILA, Philippines — More than half of the COVID-19 vaccines so far received by the Philippines are made by Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.
“As of September 27, the country has already received 66.6 million doses of vaccines and among these 66 million, 39 million is Sinovac,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told an online media briefing.
According to Malacañang, over 20 million individuals in the country were already fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of September 26.
Meanwhile, the government said 43.9 million doses have been administered since the vaccine roll-out in March. Of this number, 22 million were given as first doses.
READ: PH fully vaccinated over 20 million people vs COVID-19 as of Sept 26
Concerns were raised on the efficacy of Sinovac against the more contagious COVID-19 variants following the surge of cases in Indonesia, which had heavily relied on the China-made shot.
READ: Hundreds of vaccinated Indonesian health workers get COVID-19, dozens in hospital
But the DOH has defended the government’s purchase of the Chinese-developed vaccine, saying the jab continues to offer protection against the severe form of COVID-19. The agency has explained that while vaccines may not completely prevent infection, it provides protection against hospitalization and death due to the disease.