THE government is bent on injecting the low-efficacy Coronavac developed, manufactured and distributed by China’s Sinovac Biotech biopharmaceutical firm, to an estimated nine million Filipino elderlies.
In a media forum, National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez, results of scientific studies show very limited adverse effects to patients who have been injected with Coronavac, and as such has become the government’s major consideration.
When asked by reporters as to what brand of vaccine the government plans on injecting among senior citizens, Galvez said that they are looking at the China-made Coronac branded jabs for the elderlies.
“Titingnan natin iyong possibility na talagang iyong Sinovac din po.”
Galvez however clarified that they would have to finish vaccinating the healthcare workers before giving shots to senior citizens. He is expecting to complete the government inoculation on health workers in April.
The Philippines, which aims to vaccinate 70 million people or two-thirds of its population this year, is on a tough predicament amid a sharp spike in coronavirus infections, tallying over 4,000 new COVID-19 cases for a fifth straight day on Tuesday.