Galvez heads for India to sign vaccine agreements

MANILA, Philippines — National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. is set to fly to India today to sign vaccine supply agreements with Novavax and the Serum Institute of India (SII).

“Next is Novavax. When we go to India this coming March 9 to 12, we will sign our supply agreement,” the government’s designated vaccine czar said yesterday.

The Philippine government is trying to secure 30 million doses of Covavax vaccines developed by Novavax and manufactured by SII.

“We might also have other supply agreements for the AstraZeneca and Covishield that the government will buy from the Serum Institute of India,” Galvez said.

The Philippines earlier received 500,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from the World Health Organization-led COVAX Facility.

The vaccines developed by Novavax and AstraZeneca are being manufactured by SII, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer.

Galvez said that supply agreements to be finalized in the coming days include those with Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, manufacturers whom the Philippines have been in talks with.

He said that building a vaccine stockpile is also crucial to enable the Philippines to relax quarantine restrictions and resume face-to-face classes in May or in the second quarter of 2021.

If the Philippines could close deals for vaccines with these companies, the government would have a stockpile of around 10 million doses, which would meet President Duterte’s earlier condition to have at least two million vaccine doses on standby before he agrees to “open the economy.”

The Philippines is among the last countries in Southeast Asia to start its COVID-19 vaccine rollout despite also being among the worst affected nations in the region.