The Philippines has enough supply of Covid-19 vaccines for the rest of the year, National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 chief, Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr.
Galvez made the assurance after some local government units have requested for the direct purchase of the jabs, instead of entering into a tripartite agreement with the national government.
The Certificate of Product Registration, authorizing direct distribution of the Covid-19 vaccines, may be available by next year.
“Our LGUs need to know that we have enough vaccines. Hindi na nila kailangan bumili,” he said.
Galvez said manufacturers are more inclined to deal with the national government because it is more expeditious.
More than 32 million doses are in the country’s vaccine stockpile.
On Oct. 8, a total of 2,132,140 doses of Moderna arrived, 1,384,280 of which are government-procured and the remaining 747,860 purchased by the private sector.
Another 661,110 AstraZeneca jabs procured by the private sector were delivered on the same day.
The latest shipment brought the country’s total vaccines received to 84,212,309 doses.
The government aims to hit the 100-million doses mark by the end of the month.
Health Sec. Francisco Duque III said over 187 million doses are arriving until the end of the year, enough to inoculate about 90 million Filipinos.
“We are really hoping, we are really wishing that 50 percent of the target population will be covered by end of the year. But of course, it’s just our intermediate goal. The goal is to vaccinate about 70 to 80, even about 90 million Filipinos,” said Duque, who joined Galvez in welcoming the shipment. – PNA
