Vax doses secured to achieve 70% population protection

THE GOVERNMENT has secured nearly 195 million doses of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccines that can inoculate 100.5 million Filipinos until the first quarter of 2022.

National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 chief implementer, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., said the Covid-19 jabs were procured, donated, and acquired through the COVAX Facility.

"Dumating na po 'yung 48.9 million and then we will still expect more or less mga 140 million na galing po sa mga ibang mga manufacturer and also from COVAX (The 48.9 million have arrived and we still expect more or less 140 million coming from various manufacturers and also from the COVAX Facility)," Galvez reported to President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night.

Galvez said over 8 million doses will be delivered next year.

"More or less mayroon po tayong 114 million na darating sa fourth quarter at saka 'yung mga slippage doon sa (We are expecting more or less 114 million doses to arrive in the fourth quarter and the other slippage will be on the) first quarter of 2022," he said.

Department of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said 170 million doses were procured by the government and 24 million were ordered by the private sector.

"From March 1 to August 25, we have already received 48.89 million doses. Ang (The) estimated arrival from August 26 to September 30 is 42 million doses. And from October to December, we are expecting 103.59 million doses. So actually we are expecting roughly 50 million doses a month from September to December," Dominguez reported.

The government, Dominguez said, has so far allocated USD1.302 billion for vaccine acquisition.

"Wala ho tayong problema sa pera. May financing na lahat 'yan at we have (We don't have a problem about the money. We have funds for all of that). We don't have to worry about any, about money here. We have all the money ready to be paid for these doses," he said.

To date, the Philippines has received 48,885,590 doses, with 31,433,450 already administered nationwide.

The government targets to vaccinate at least 77 million or 70 percent of the estimated 111 million total population. (Lade Jean Kabagani)