PH secures 25-M COVID vaccines from China’s Sinovac

MADE IN CHINA A doctor shows the Sinovac vaccine. —AFP file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has secured 25 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines developed by China’s Sinovac, 50,000 of which will arrive in the country by February, Malacañang said Monday.

“Sang-ayon po sa Department of Health, magkakaroon na po tayo ng unang 25 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Sinovac. Dadating na ang bakuna sa Pilipinas sa susunod na buwan,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing.

(According to the Department of Health, we will have 25 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Sinovac. The vaccine will arrive in the Philippines next month.)

“Well, wag naman kayo masyado mag-celebrate dyan dahil ang paunang darating po ay 50,000 doses lang ng vaccine galing sa Sinovac. Pero at least, magsisimula na rin po tayo,” he added.

(But don’t celebrate just yet because the first batch of doses from Sinovac is at 50,000. At least, we’re beginning to vaccinate our people.)

This is on top of 15,000 vaccines to be used for Sinovac’s clinical trials in the country, Roque added.

Roque said there will be 950,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines coming in March, one million doses each in April and May, and two million doses in June.

Earlier, the DOH said two brands of COVID-19 vaccines may arrive in the country next month.

Apart from Sinovac, the Philippines had already signed deals for COVID-19 vaccines developed by the Serum Institute of India and British drugmaker AstraZeneca.

The government is also in talks with other vaccine makers like Pfizer and Moderna of the United States, Sinopharm of China and the Gamaleya Institute of Russia.

JPV