The Philippine government is currently negotiating 90 million more doses of COVID-19 vaccines which are expected to be secured within the next two weeks, vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr. announced.
This is in addition to the 30 million doses of Covovax from the Serum Institute of India and 25 million doses of Sinovac vaccines, as well as advance purchases of local government units and the private sector through tripartite agreements.
All orders combined, a total of 145 million vaccine doses is expected by the end of January.
Galvez noted that this means the country is close to its target of procuring a total of 148 million doses, enough to vaccinate up to 70 million Filipinos this year.
All in all, seven vaccines brand are expected to be used in the country – with those from Sinovac, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca seen to be delivered first. Others include US firms Moderna, Novovax, and Johnson and Johnson, and Russia’s Gamaleya Institute.
