Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Romualdez said the initial batch of Moderna vaccines against Covid-19 is expected to arrive in Manila by May or June this year,
“We’ve already concluded the agreement. The only problem now is the supply/ We’re threshing out the supply issue and when Moderna can deliver.” he said, adding they hope the first delivery by either end of May or early part of June.
Romualdez said Manila was able to secure about 20 million doses of vaccines developed by the American firm, along with the private sector which helped purchase the vials.
“Almost half of that will go to the private sector and their employees; that’s a big force. The other half will go to our health workers and the rest of Filipinos that will be receiving the Moderna through the LGUs and other entities there,” he said.
Romualdez expressed confidence the delivery would be no later than the second half of the year as America ramps up its vaccine production. He said at least 117,000 Pfizer vaccines were negotiated through the COVAX Facility, a mechanism that guarantees fair and equitable access to Covid-19 jabs for low to middle-income countries.
The ambassador also added that around four million Janssen Covid-19 vaccines were “readied” for the Philippines, although the pharmaceutical firm has yet to commit on the delivery date as most of the vaccine manufacturers in the United States are focused on the inoculation of at least 70% of the US population.