Cebu, CV Acquires Second Batch of COVID-19 Vaccines

Cebu acquired another 7,200 doses of the Sinovac vaccine as part of the 2nd batch of vaccine distribution. Recently, 1.4 million doses of Sinovac arrived at the Villamor airbase in Pasay City for the continued battle against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Aside from the 7,200 doses of sinovac, another 14,400 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine will be used for 10,800 individuals in Region-7.

This is the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines the national government procured, costing P700 million. The Philippine government plans to buy a total of 25 million doses of Sinovac.

More deliveries of vaccines from other sources are expected to arrive in the country in the coming weeks and months, under the National Vaccine Roadmap.

Senate Chairman on Committee on Health Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said that the national government is targeting 1.7 million frontliners to be vaccinated as soon as possible.

“Importante ‘yung mga health workers natin. Madami po akong nababalitaan na mayroong mga nauuna. Dapat muna nating protektahan ang ating mga health workers,” Go said.

The Philippine government is currently negotiating with different pharmaceutical companies to ensure that the country secures enough doses to vaccinate 70 million of the population. This number is the target number of the government to achieve herd immunity.

979,200 doses of additional AstraZeneca vaccine are expected to arrive in the country that donated by the World Health Organization’s COVAX Facility. (MLC)