THE first batch of procured COVID-19 vaccines from China is arriving two weeks from now, says vaccine czar Carlito Galvez.
In a news conference culminating the inaugural vaccination in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Galvez said one million doses of CoronaVac vaccines developed, manufactured and distributed by Sinovac Biotech will be landing on Philippine soil on March 21.
“Meron po tayong na-procure na 1 million na darating po sa March 21,” Galvez told reporters in attendance.
Aside from what would be paid for using government funds, Galvez said that China is also sending over 400,000 more doses in donation, in addition to what has already been delivered last February 28.
“So 1.4 million ang darating this March,” Galvez said.
On top of the 600,000 CoronaVac jabs, some 487,200 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca also arrived in the Philippines under the COVAX facility, plus 38,400 doses more from the British-Swedish pharmaceutical firm expected to arrive on Sunday.
He added that 4.5 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines are also set to land in May.