[ad_1]
The Philippines expects to begin vaccines for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in May next year, the country’s “vaccine czar” said on Thursday.
Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., who is also the main executor of the national policy against Covid-19, confirmed the objective for the start of the immunization of Covid-19 established by the Department of Science and Technology.
The vaccines could be carried over at the end of next year if supply and demand problems arise, Gálvez said in a television interview.
“Sa ngayon, so far, the demand from the big countries is more than that. Talagang magkakahirapan tayo sa demand and supply kaya we are appealing to the WHO (World Health Organization) for great equitable access (The demand for a vaccine from the big countries is enormous. We will really have a bad time, that’s why we are appealing to the WHO to ensure equitable access), ”he said.
Gálvez said the government plans to purchase 24 million initial doses of the vaccine.
Previously, Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the government needed to establish cold storage facilities, as vaccines must be stored in freezing temperatures.
Roque said that only the Tropical Medicine Research Institute in the city of Muntinlupa has such a facility.
Gálvez was previously appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as a key person in the negotiation for the acquisition and distribution of vaccines.
There are 10 pharmaceutical companies seeking to supply the country with a Covid vaccine, Gálvez said. Eight are from Covax, a global collaboration of countries to accelerate development, production, and equitable access to the Covid-19 vaccine.
He said that among the pharmaceutical companies with promising trials is UK-based AstraZeneca, which can produce 1 billion doses by the end of the year.
“Ito ang tinitignan natin (this is what we are seeing). That is why we are having a commitment with the Ambassador of the United Kingdom so that we can have some kind of diplomatic arrangement on how we can access vaccines so soon, “said Gálvez.
He said he would initiate talks with representatives from China, Russia, Singapore, South Korea and Japan to give the Philippines priority once a vaccine is available on the market.
Galvez said he is also speaking with pharmaceutical giants Zuellig Pharma and Unilab Inc. about
the availability of cold storage facilities.
Some vaccines require refrigeration at a temperature of less than 80 degrees Celsius, he said.
He said it would take time if the government itself has to build a cold storage chain for the Covid vaccine.
As of Thursday, the country registered 1,594 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total to 32,773.
Manila had the highest number of new cases with 253, followed by Cavite with 126, Davao City and Rizal province with 78, and Quezon City with 73.
Mild and asymptomatic cases combined for 93.1 percent of active cases, while 4.4 percent were critical and 2.5 percent were severe.
There were 468 patients who have recovered, bringing the total count to 349,543. The death toll stood at 7,409, after 42 new deaths were reported.
The Health Department said that of the 24,153 tests it conducted on Nov. 4, 1,944 came back positive, with a positivity rate of 8.0 percent.
The number of Covid-19 cases worldwide is now 48.1 million, with deaths reaching 1.225 million, according to Johns Hopkins University.
WITH RED MENDOZA
[ad_2]
