PH, Pfizer sign new deal for 20-M more COVID-19 vaccine doses

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 28) – The Philippine government has signed a new deal with the US vaccine manufacturer Pfizer-BioNTech for the purchase of another 20 million COVID-19 doses, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. announced on Sunday.

Galvez said the additional Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses will be used as booster shots and to vaccinate more minors in the country.

"With these additional doses, we can ensure the sustainability of our National Vaccination Program, and hit the vaccination targets we have set not only for this year, but for 2022 as well," Galvez said in a virtual briefing for media.

The additional 20 million Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses, under the deal signed on Saturday, will be delivered to the country starting in January 2022.

The procurement of the fresh Pfizer vaccine doses will be financed through the Philippines COVID-19 Emergency Response Project loan secured by the national government from the World Bank last March.

The latest set of Pfizer COVID-19 doses amended the previous agreement signed by the Philippine government and the American vaccine manufacturer, which increases the total doses ordered by the country to 60 million.

The Philippines has received over 142.1 million total COVID-19 vaccine doses from various suppliers, with at least 92 million bought by the national government.

As of Nov. 27, COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country breached 81 million. Over 45.2 million Filipinos received their first inoculation, while at least 35.5 million – or 46.10% of the country's target population – are fully vaccinated.