LGUs may have COVID vaccine deals with Moderna, Novavax

A small shopping basket filled with vials labeled “COVID-19 – Coronavirus Vaccine” and a medical sryinge are placed on a Moderna logo in this illustration taken November 29, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Ilustration

MANILA, Philippines — Apart from British drugmaker AstraZeneca, local government units (LGUs) may also enter into a tripartite agreement to secure vaccines from Moderna and Novavax, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Thursday.

“Apart from AstraZeneca, the two other pharma companies that are also open to entering into a tripartite agreement [are] Moderna and Novavax,” Nograles said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel.

“These are three pharma companies where the private sector and the LGU may enter into negotiations with,” he added.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles. FILE PHOTO

Several LGUs, mostly in Metro Manila, have already signed deals with the national government and AstraZeneca to secure vaccines for their constituents.

Previously, 2.6 million vaccines were already secured from AstraZeneca by the national government and private sector.

The government is expected to sign a deal for an additional 20 million doses, according to vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr.

The national government already announced securing 30 million doses of Covavax vaccine developed by Novavax and the Serum Institute of India.

The country is also in final stages of negotiations with Moderna for up to 20 million doses, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Romualdez said.

Some 25 million doses developed by China’s Sinovac have also been secured, 50,000 of which expected to arrive in the country by February.

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