CLOSE to 1 million doses of Moderna vaccines arrived in the country on Saturday, September 18.
China Airlines Flight C1703 landed at the Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport past 3:00 p.m. It carried 961,000 doses of the US-made COVID-19 vaccines.
For this latest shipment, 712,800 doses were procured by the national government, while the remaining 248,200 doses were purchased by the private sector led by International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI).
So far, the Philippines already bought 20 million doses of Moderna vaccines this this year, with 13 million procured by the government and 7 million by the private sector.
According to Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) special adviser, the vaccines bought by the government will be allocated to regions outside of the National Capital Region where majority will be given to Regions 3 and 4-A, Cebu and Mindanao.
Herbosa also clarified that the national government has not yet issued a policy allowing the vaccination of individuals aged 12 to 17 years old.
“There are two vaccine brands that have been approved by the FDA, the Pfizer and itong Moderna for 12 years old and up. However, we are still vaccinating 18 years old and above,” Herbosa said.
As of September 18, 59,169,810 COVID-19 vaccine doses have arrived in the country since February.
Herbosa was joined by Dr. Ma. Paz Corrales, NTF medical consultant; Police Maj. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, PNP Director for Operations, Police Col. Limuel Obon, Deputy Director for Operations, Aviation Security Group (AVSEGROUP); and Raymond Azurin, senior vice president for corporate affairs, Zuellig Pharma Corp, in welcoming the Moderna vaccines.
(PHOTO CREDIT: NTF Media Group)