Philippine authorities said the government is willing to offer more funds to vaccine suppliers if it will expedite the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to the country as soon as possible.
This, amid the continuous delay of arrival that has set back the country’s vaccination roadmap.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., explained that due to global supply shortage and unequal distribution, the government is considering paying more money for the vaccine as it might fast-track the delivery, reaching the Philippines by mid-year.
“Nagne-negotiate po tayo, kahit mapamahal nang kaunti, na magkaroon ng early delivery ng second and first quarters.”
Galvez added that the bulk of secured doses are expected to arrive only in the second half of 2021. The country is expected to receive 161 million vaccine doses from various firms before the year ends, but only 5.1 million is seen to be delivered to the country by March.
Among the batches arriving before end-March, according to Galvez, are 600,000 doses of Sinovac donated by China, 3.5 million doses of Pfizer and AstraZeneca from the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility, and doses independently secured by the Department of Health.
