Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said that the private sector is expected to receive the first batch of vaccines it procured for its vaccination program in June.
Concepcion said during a briefing on Tuesday that 1.3 million of the 17 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses procured by private firms are scheduled to arrive next month and is seen to benefit some 100 companies.
“Itong mga pinakamalaking kumpanya nauna ditong bumili ng AstraZeneca, mga conglomerates natin katulad ng ICTSI, Ayala, SM, Lucio Tan, Megaworld, lahat iyan, kasama rin ang Philippine Franchising Association, Philippine Retailers Association,” said Concepcion, adding that the next batch will be received July onwards.
Private companies participated in tripartite deals that were able to purchase 17 million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccines to assist the government in its vaccination program.
Concepcion previously noted that the private sector will fund its own inoculation program. He added that Zuellig Pharmaceutical Corporation was also tapped as the logistics service provider.
Companies have likewise been granted the option to choose their vaccination implementer, he added.
The Presidential Adviser also stressed the need for every Filipino to receive a vaccine, which will be key in reopening the Philippine economy.
“The only solution to our pandemic problem and our economic problem is the vaccine. May mga tao rin diyan ayaw magpabakuna pero we are at war with COVID-19… Wala ng ibang solusyon kung hindi ang bakuna,” he said.
