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MANILA, Philippines – The country’s airlines said they could handle the timely delivery of Covid-19 vaccines, which the government plans to administer to priority beneficiaries later this month.
Most vaccines require cold or ultra-cold storage and must be administered within a specified period of time to avoid losing their effectiveness.
Gilbert Santa Maria, president of Philippine Airlines (PAL), said that PAL was the only airline that could transport the vaccines from Europe and the United States to the country, and in large quantities to meet the maximum safety limits for the transport of dry ice. .
“For example, we can fly from Spain to Cebu to bring Moderna vaccines directly to Visayas. We can fly from Spain directly to Davao to bring the Moderna vaccine there, right? If it’s AstraZeneca and it’s sourced in Belgium, then we can do the same, right? That is our capacity because we are the only carrier in the Philippines with long-haul wide-body / large-body aircraft, ”Santa Maria said in a radio interview.
PAL also has multiple options for delivering vaccines shipped in bulk to Manila by manufacturers to different parts of the country, Santa Maria said.
It could also transport the vaccines to airports in other provinces and then load them onto smaller planes or helicopters for delivery to remote destinations, he added.
Boni Sam, president of PAL Express, said the airline could also go to airports where it does not operate commercial flights.
CebGo President Alex Reyes said Cebu Pacific was also ready to deliver the COVID-19 vaccines.
“We carry a lot of drugs and mainly vaccines throughout our network,” Reyes said.
Air Asia President Ricardo Isla said the airline was requesting a permit to transport vaccines.
The airline would like to take an active role in delivering the vaccines once it gets your permission, Isla said.
For more news on the new coronavirus, click here.
What you need to know about the coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
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