Philippines Says Covid Vaccine Orders Enough to Hit 2021 Goal
(Bloomberg) -- The Philippines said it has enough orders of coronavirus vaccines in the pipeline to reach its goal of inoculating most of its population this year, even as it expects a supply crunch in the first half.
The Southeast Asian nation is negotiating for as many as 170 million vaccine doses, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a televised briefing on Tuesday. A fourth of the vaccine supply will come from the World Health Organization-backed COVAX Facility, with first shipments expected later this month.
The Philippines’ other vaccine sources include:
| Vaccine | Expected Doses | Expected Arrival |
|---|---|---|
| Novavax Inc. | 30 million | May 2021 |
| Sinovac Biotech Ltd. | 25 million | February 2021 |
| Moderna Inc. | 20 million | July 2021 |
| AstraZeneca Plc. | 17 million | May 2021 |
| Pfizer Inc. | 15 million | August 2021 |
| Russia’s Gamaleya | 10-15 million | April 2021 |
| Johnson & Johnson | 5 million | October 2021 |
The Philippines, which has the second-worst outbreak in Southeast Asia, is expecting difficulties in procuring shots in the first half, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez earlier said. The nation aims to inoculate up to 70 million adults this year under a vaccination program that underpins its efforts to recover from a record economic contraction last year.
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