Filipinos urged to be patient as vaccine arrival delayed

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. urged Filipinos to be patient amid delays in vaccine arrival due to limited global supply and ongoing negotiations with COVAX.

Galvez said the government is expecting 5 to 9 million doses of AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines through COVAX within the first quarter.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque stated that President Duterte cannot wait for the vaccines to arrive and wants them delivered immediately.

Roque expressed optimism that local and national governments will work quickly to avoid delays in the planned inoculation, with Duterte signing a memorandum order allowing advance payments for vaccine procurement.