Arrival of recent shipment of Sputnik V vaccine doses. Screenshot from PTV
MANILA, Philippines — Five million Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine doses that are nearing the end of shelf life will be donated by the Philippine government to Myanmar, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online media briefing that discussions with authorities in Myanmar are ongoing.
“We have to go through a lot of processes but definitely ito pong sa Myanmar ay ongoing na talaga ng discussion… Ang ini-intend po na idonate sa Myanmar ‘yung mga Sputnik V components 1 and 2 and these will be worth around 5 million doses of vaccines,” she said.
Meanwhile, discussions with the government of Papua New Guinea have yet to start. Vergeire said it is just one of the proposed recipients of the excess vaccines.
Malacañang earlier said the Philippine government will go ahead with its plan to donate “excess” vaccines that are nearing the end of shelf life.
Acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said “legal documentation processes are ongoing” for the delivery of the donated vaccines to Myanmar.