Over 2 million more AstraZeneca doses to arrive in PH on June 23
The global initiative COVAX will deliver another batch of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines on June 23, an official said on Tuesday.
COVAX is co-led by Gavi vaccine alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the World Health Organization. It aims to ensure all countries get fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
“Bukas, kararating lang iyong balita na makakatanggap tayo ng 2.2 million AstraZeneca [doses] galing sa COVAX facility,” Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje, chairperson of the National Vaccination Operations Center, told a Laging Handa briefing on Tuesday.
[Translation: We just got the news that tomorrow, we will receive 2.2 million AstraZeneca doses from the COVAX facility.]
She added the incoming shots will be given to healthcare workers, senior citizens, persons with comorbidities, and the indigent sector.
The Philippines has so far received 5,025,870 doses from the COVAX facility, of which 2,556,000 are AstraZeneca shots.
Meanwhile, 1.5 million more doses of CoronaVac, the Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine, are set to be flown to the Philippines on June 24, while an initial 150,000 Moderna doses will arrive on June 25, Cabotaje said.
The health official added that 8,591,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered as of Monday. Some 6.4 million Filipinos had their first dose, while 2.1 million are fully vaccinated.
