A shipment of some 193,000 doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine from the COVAX facility is expected to make its way to the Philippines on Monday.
This was confirmed by Health Secretary Francisco Duque on Saturday in a press briefing.
According to Duque, the incoming Pfizer vaccines will most likely be allocated in Metro Manila and other “major cities” which can handle the product’s storage requirements of -70 to 80°C.
“The Pfizer vaccines will be distributed maybe in the NCR, in Metro Cebu, in Metro Davao City, and the other major cities that can handle the required temperature,” Duque said.
Due to the shipment being another donation from the COVAX facility, Duque stressed the Philippine government will also be following the priority framework for vaccine recipients — with individuals under the A1-A3 priority group seen to get the first doses.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. previously said a total of 1.3 million jabs of the vaccines developed by the American drug manufacturer may arrive in the country this month. He previously said the initial shipment of 193,000 doses was scheduled to be received on Tuesday, May 11.
The Philippines was initially scheduled to receive a first batch of 117,000 Pfizer doses through COVAX in February, but the delivery was hampered due to the absence of an indemnification deal between the parties.
