PH signs deal for 30M doses of Covovax — Serum Institute of India

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 10) — The Philippine government has inked a term sheet for 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine Covovax, the Serum Institute of India announced.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. represented the country in the signing on Saturday, which the SII and its Philippine partner Faberco Life Sciences Inc. also took part in.

"The vaccine is stable at 2°C to 8°C, the standard temperature that is within the existing cold chain system in the Philippines, thus allowing its distribution to the remotest barangays," said Dr. Luningning Villa, medical director of Faberco Life Sciences, adding it will be used to inoculate 15 million and vulnerable Filipinos.

The doses will be available to the Philippines beginning the third quarter of 2021. Meanwhile, the cost of the vaccine is expected to be finalized soon, added the SII, also noting its reputation of providing "effective, safe and affordable" vaccines worldwide for decades.

"This is a significant milestone in relations between India and the Philippines," said Faberco Life Sciences founder Kishore Hemlani about the signing. "It shows that we don't have to look far beyond Philippine shores to find friends who are willing to help each other out."

The government initially confirmed the supply of 30 million doses of Covovax in December last year.

The largest vaccine manufacturer in the world, the SII has teamed up with United States-based biotechnology company Novavax in the development and commercialization of the Covovax vaccine.