Philippines eyes four COVID-19 vaccines for Q1 2021

The Philippines aims to secure four COVID-19 vaccines from China and Russia for use in the first quarter of 2021.

Sinovac, CanSino Biologics, Sinopharm (China), and Gamaleya Research Institute (Russia) are among the vaccines eyed by the government.

AstraZeneca’s vaccine is expected to be used by the second quarter, with Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Novavax, Moderna, and doses from COVAX Facility arriving in the third quarter.

The Philippines faces challenges in securing vaccines due to procurement laws and competition from wealthier nations.

Indonesia has already received 1.2 million doses of Sinovac’s CoronaVac vaccine, despite not having local regulatory approval.

Galvez expects a bulk of government-procured vaccines to arrive in the first quarter if negotiations with China and Russia are successful.