PH may get US COVID-19 vaccines by early 2021

Philippine Ambassador to Washington D.C. Jose Manuel Romualdez stated that the Philippines might receive US-made COVID-19 vaccines by early next year, at the latest.

Discussions are ongoing with US pharmaceutical firms Pfizer and Moderna to secure a vaccine supply.

Pfizer's vaccine candidate has shown over 90 percent effectiveness in early data and was the first to approach the Philippines, reportedly due to talks between Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The pharmaceutical companies are not asking for a downpayment, but only a purchase order to confirm the government's intent to procure.

The estimated cost for the Philippines is around $5 per dose, though the US has ordered the same vaccine for $19.50 per dose.

Each person will require two doses of the vaccine.