GOV’T CONSIDERING VACCINES FROM GAMALEYA, SINOVAC FOR NEXT YEAR’S ROLLOUT

GOV’T CONSIDERING VACCINES

FROM GAMALEYA, SINOVAC FOR NEXT YEAR’S ROLLOUT Vaccine czar Secretary communicated with the “Kaya po ang Carlito Galvez Jr. reported Department of Science ginagawa namin pinapato President Rodrigo Roa and Technology (DOST) analyze naming mabuti Duterte on Wednesday and with the health and sa ating vaccine expert that he is working with the technical advisory groups ‘yung performance country’s vaccine experts to study the records of po ng Sinovac at saka to analyze the data Gamaleya and Sinovac. ‘yung Gamaleya, ‘yung of Russia’s Gamaleya “Kung magiging kanilang history at saka and China’s Sinovac for successful tayo po ‘yung potential adverse a possible first quarter sa Sinovac at saka event at saka ‘yung mga rollout in the Philippines. Gamaleya kasi initial record ng mga kanilang During a meeting nila puwede sila sa first clinical trial.” with President Duterte, quarter,” Galvez told the A “mini rollout” in the Galvez said he has President. first quarter of next year is

just fine, Galvez said, as the country could learn from the experiences of other countries that has conducted mass inoculations. For instance, the Philippines can learn from UK’s experience, which has already conducted immunizations using a vaccine developed by American pharmaceutical company Pfizer. “So kung paano mag-deploy ang Pfizer ganun po ang gagawin po natin para magkaroon tayo ng lessons learned at saka mawalan po tayo ng tinatawag na mga spillage at saka ‘yung mga wastage ng mga vaccine kasi very sensitive po ‘yung Pfizer,” he said. Galvez said they are expecting major vaccine deliveries of around 10 to 15 million doses by the end of the second quarter or at the start of the third quarter next year as manufacturers cope with huge demand. Pharmaceutical companies struggle to produce vaccines since securing raw materials takes some time, according to the country’s vaccine czar. “So talagang ang production line po ay talagang nahihirapan din sila kasi mataas po ang demand.” But aside from Gamaleya and Sinovac, the Philippine government is also negotiating with AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson. It also has discussions with Moderna and Sinopharm. Once contracts are sealed, the country could secure more than 60 million doses, which will be available in tranches next year, Galvez said. (PND)