Galvez: ‘Best-case scenario’ for PH to vaccinate 60-70% of population by Q4

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. answers queries from senators during the continuation of the Senate Committee of the Whole hybrid hearing on the national government’s COVID-19 vaccination program, Friday, January 15, 2021. Senate PRIB file photo / Albert Calvelo

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ best-case scenario is to vaccinate 60 to 70 percent of its population by fourth quarter of 2021, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Wednesday.

“Ang ating best case scenario, kung dadating po ang ating mga bakuna on time, it will be on the last quarter of 2021,” Galvez said in an event in Taguig City when asked if the country’s target to vaccinate at least 60 percent of its people.

(Our best-case scenario is if the vaccines arrive on time, it will be in the last quarter of 2021.)

“Ang worst-case scenario natin, first semester ng 2022. Hindi na po tayo aabot ng 2023,” he added.

(Our worst-case scenario is in the first semester of 2022. We will not reach 2023.)

Galvez said this as he belied a report by The Economist estimating that the Philippines will finish its widespread vaccination of 60 percent of its population by the fourth quarter of 2023.

Latest @TheEIU_Asia forecasts of when vaccine rollout will reach >60% vaccinated in each country, our yardstick for when distancing and quarantine measures are likely to be relaxed. Compared to last time, we now think Malaysia will get there earlier. pic.twitter.com/TOVMIVO3hq

— Simon Baptist Econ (@baptist_simon) January 25, 2021

“I believe mali yung basis ng Economist dahil yung ating procurement, ang timeline po nyan, ang main delivery sa Q3 and Q4 and kung just in case magkaroon ng delay, Q1 of 2022,” Galvez said.

(I believe the Economist has the wrong basis since our procurement’s timeline is on Q3 and Q4. In case there will be a delay, Q1 of 2022.)

The Philippines has already secured 25 million Covid-19 vaccines from China’s Sinovac, 30 million vaccines from Serum Institute of India and Novovax, about 20 million vaccines from AstraZeneca, and up to 40 million vaccines from the COVAX facility.

JPV