1M Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine doses to be delivered ‘March 21 onwards’ – Galvez

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4)— The Philippines can expect to receive one million more doses of China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine towards the end of March, appointed vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Thursday.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Galvez said the deal to secure the doses will be signed today.

“Maybe March 21 and onwards [delivery],” Galvez told The Source. “Maaasahan po natin, March 21 to 30, darating na po ‘yung one million (We can expect the one million to arrive by March 21 o 30).”

Sinovac was the first vaccine against COVID-19 to reach Philippine shores, with its arrival last weekend paving the way for the start of the country’s much-anticipated inoculation drive against the coronavirus. The initial 600,000-dose shipment was donated by the Chinese government and military, China's envoy to the Philippines disclosed during a welcome ceremony for the vaccines.

Aside from the donation, the country earlier reached an agreement with Sinovac to secure 25 million doses of the product. According to Galvez, the government will request for two million doses by April, and three million doses by May.

“And maybe 5 million sa June and August. To complete ‘yung 25 million na kanilang pangako sa atin (to complete the 25 million they promised us),” he said.