Up to 4 million vaccinees by July as more vaccines expected to arrive–Galvez

(FILE) Medical workers from the Ospital ng Paranaque inspect the first batch of Astrazeneca vaccine during a ceremonial vaccination after the British-Swede made vaccine arrived in the country. The country is expected to receive about 5.5 million to 9.2 million AstraZeneca vaccines this year through the WHO-led COVAX facility. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is targeting to increase the number of vaccinations being done monthly and reach as many as 4 million vaccinees by July, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Wednesday.

Galvez said they are ensuring the steady supply of COVID-19 vaccines arriving in the Philippines to meet these targets by starting at a million vaccinations per week in April.

“Aakyat po sa May, gusto po namin magkaroon kami ng steady supply na 8 million para magkaroon po tayo ng vaccination na 2 million per week. And then sa June, iaangat po natin ulit ang ating capacity na gagawin po natin is 3 million per week,” Galvez said in an interview over dzBB.

(This will increase in May, we want a study supply of 8 million so we can have 2 million vaccinations per week. In June, we will again increase our capacity and have 3 million vaccinations per week.)

“And then sa July pag nagkaroon na po tayo ng tinatawag na enough supply, gagawin po natin, 3 to 4 million per week. Ganun po gagawin natin, gradually, iaangat po natin ng 1 million per week, 2 million per week, 3 million per week,” he added.

(And then in July once we have enough supply, we will have 3 to 4 million vaccinations per week. That’s what we’re doing, gradually increasing vaccinations from 1 million per week, 2 million per week, 3 million per week.)

Asked if this projection is realistic, Galvez answered in the affirmative, explaining that the COVID-19 vaccines arriving in the next few months will also be increased.

“Opo, bubuuin po namin na 4 million ang ating supply sa April. And then sa May, darating po yung ating AstraZeneca na supply, baka meron pong darating na mga more or less 200,000 na Moderna, darating na rin po yung ibang binili natin. At baka magkaroon din po tayo ng another donation sa COVAX,” Galvez said.

(Yes, we will complete the 4 million supply in April. In May, AstraZeneca will arrive, there might be more or less 200,000 from Moderna and other vaccines we purchased. And there might be another donation from the COVAX facility.)

“Sa May, baka magkaroon tayo ng 8 million and then sa June, 10 million then July, 15 million. Then August up to December, 20 million each month po,” he added.

(In May, we might have 8 million and then on June, 10 million then July, 15 million. Then August up to December, 20 million each month.)

This March, the Philippines is expecting to receive 2.3 million COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility. Of these are 979,200 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines.

A total of 1.4 million doses of Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine are also arriving by the end of this month.

/MUF