Private sector’s 2.3 M doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine coming in July, August

 (REUTERS / File Photo)

MANILA, Philippines — At least 2.3 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine procured by the private sector are expected to arrive in July and August, presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said Monday.

Concepcion said 1.17 million doses supposed to arrive this June will arrive instead in July, and another 1.17 million doses will be delivered in August.

“May konting delay ng arrival ng AstraZeneca, imbis na fourth week of June, magiging July second week po, mga July 14. Pero hindi naman gaano masyadong delayed naman siya, it’s within July,” Concepcion said in an interview over Teleradyo.

(There’s a little delay in the arrival of the AstraZeneca vaccine, instead of fourth week of June, it will be in the second week of July, around July 14. But it’s not too delayed, it’s still within July.)

“Ang darating dito about 1.17 million doses for July at sa August may 1.17 million doses rin,” he added.

(What will arrive in July are 1.17 million doses and in August, another 1.17 million doses.)

The private sector, local government units and the national government have signed a tripartite agreement for a total of 17 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.  

“Gagamitin lahat yung 1.17 million as first dose, you can expect sa July, that is the number of people that will receive the vaccines,” Concepcion said.

(All 1.17 million doses will be used as first dose so you can expect that in July, that’s the number of people that will receive the vaccine.)

Concepcion also said they were allowed by the government to delay their donation to the government to early next year.

“Ang maganda dito, si [vaccine czar] Sec. Charlie Galvez, they allowed the private sector, mauuna muna kami sa mga doses at yung donation namin sa kanila, maski next year na lang ibigay at least mabakunahan na ang ibang empleyado namin. Mga January next year,” Concepcion said.

(What’s good is that Sec. Charlie Galvez allowed the private sector to give the doses to our employees and our donation to the government will be given next year, around January next year.)

The private sector is donating 50 percent of the vaccines it ordered to the national government. Concepcion earlier said they would want the donations allocated to Metro Manila.  

The government said it was eyeing to start the vaccination of essential workers or those under A4 group this June.  

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