The government is negotiating to procure three million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine to boost the Philippines’ vaccine supply.
According to vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr., Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute has promised only 100,000 jabs of the vaccine, but he added that they are working on increasing that amount.
“Sa ngayon po, nag-usap po kami ni Secretary Locsin at Usec. Dodo Dulay na kakausapin po nila si Prime Minister Lavrov at titignan po nila kung maiangat po nila ng three million,” Galvez said on Monday.
Galvez previously noted that the goal was to acquire two million doses. But the number went up after it was reported that the vaccine could be used to vaccinate senior citizens.
A team from the Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration was scheduled to travel to Russia from March 15 to 18 to finalize its assessment of Gamaleya’s Sputnik V vaccine, which applied for emergency use authorization in January.
However, the trip was canceled after the regulatory body received the remaining requirements needed for the application.
