National Policy Against Covid-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. (Screengrab from PTV4 live stream)
MANILA – The country's roadmap and timeline for the acquisition of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine is on track, National Policy Against Covid-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Wednesday.
"We are still on track considering that there is a possibility that our best-case scenario will be shifted to the first quarter," Galvez said during the Laging Handa virtual briefing.
Galvez said the government expects to get an initial 50 million to 60 million doses by 2021.
"[Our] best-case scenario that we have presented is more or less, [by] May, but for now, if we will succeed in negotiating with two to three vaccine [companies] from different countries, we might be able to get it during the first quarter," he added.
The government, he said, is also negotiating with China, Australia, and India to get better access to the Covid-19 vaccine.
"We will explore also directly to different vaccine companies at nakikita po natin mayroon tayong lima o anim na portfolio na (as we see we have five to six portfolio of) different companies from US, China, UK; and also we are exploring also with Russia – with Sputnik or Gamaleya," Galvez added.
Meanwhile, Galvez said the government will use the whole-of-nation approach for the vaccine distributions once it becomes available in the country.
"I believe the whole-of-nation approach is very effective especially that we will be having an unprecedented nationwide vaccination," he said, noting that the government is targeting to utilize the military resources during the vaccination program.
Galvez cited the Canadian government which utilized its military veterans to lead the vaccination program in Canada.
"And also in the British government, I have heard that they will use the full force of military in order to utilize their resources, their capabilities and their fresh legs in order to deliver and transport iyong mga (those) vaccine in a quick time and to cover more or less 30 – 50 million people," Galvez said.
He said the government is also planning to mobilize the resources of the public and the private sector so that "we can have a maximized vaccination of all our people in a quick time frame that we have."
On the other hand, the NTF chief implementer said the country has an ongoing negotiation with the Pfizer pharmaceutical company.
"Nakapirma na po ako ng CDA [Confidential Disclosure Agreement], at doon po sa ((I already signed a CDA and with regards to) Moderna, we will be exploring our engagement, and J&J, nakadalawang presentations na po sa amin ang Johnson & Johnson (have already provided two presentations)," Galvez said.
He said the Philippine government is also exploring the Novavax through the Indian Serum Institute. (PNA)
