THE government is expecting the delivery of no less than one million shots of COVID-19 vaccines, says Secretary Carlito Galvez, who hinted at stabilizing supply as more deliveries are expected in the next few months.
In a Palace briefing, Galvez said that one million doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine will arrive in the country in the next two weeks. The supply, he added will be coming in two tranches – half million on April 22 and the remaining 500,000 on April 29.
Aside from the China-made vaccines, he also hinted at the arrival of 500,000 doses of Russia’s Sputnik V, forming part of the 20 million jabs ordered by the Philippine government from its manufacturer.
Galvez, who also claimed negotiation in progress for the procurement of 20 to 40 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, said that the country may boost its vaccine rollout in view of an assurance that the country would be getting at least two million doses of China-made vaccines every month thereafter.
As of the last count, the Philippine government has already received 3,025,600 doses of Sinovac and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, which are being used to inoculate priority sectors – healthcare workers, senior citizens and persons with comorbidities.
In a related development, Galvez said that they are seriously considering the idea of tapping stadiums and coliseums as “mega” vaccination sites to reach the targeted four million inoculated Filipinos per month.
“Ang balak namin is gayahin ‘yung ginawa sa US, ‘yung mga stadium at coliseum ay iko-convert natin na mega vaccination sites,” Galvez said.