5M Sinovac doses available first quarter of 2021 — Galvez

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. on Saturday disclosed that at least five million vaccines from China’s Sinovac may be available in the first quarter of 2021 as part of the government’s campaign against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In a statement, the National Task Force for COVID-19 chief implementer noted that the Philippine government hopes to secure a total of 20 million vaccines from Sinovac which will be delivered quarterly in 2021.

“Sinovac has already been cleared by the vaccine expert panel and it has undergone the ethics review board,” said Galvez. “They may be given an emergency use utilization from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) as they already have emergency use utilization from China.”

The official also stressed that the government is eyeing at least 20 million vaccines for each vaccine company and assured the public that the vaccine will still undergo clinical trial in the Philippines.

“Sinovac has been tested in China and we know that it was allowed for emergency use in the country,” said Galvez.

The vaccine czar also said that priority in the vaccination program is the health workers.

“Health workers will be the first ones to be administered with the vaccine because we need to protect them,” said Galvez. “Next in the priority list are the poor and vulnerable communities, then essential workers like the DSWD, medical workers, soldiers and uniformed servicemen and then next is the essential workers in food production, tourism, and other essential goods.”

Galvez added that aside from Sinovac, the government will also source its vaccines from at least five to six vaccine companies and stressed that all Filipinos will be covered by the vaccination program of the government.