(PNA file photo)
MANILA – More doses of Russian-made Sputnik V vaccines are set to arrive in the second or third week of this month, according to National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Wednesday.
"Naka-iskedyul na more or less mayroon tayong 1 million doses this May at we are assuming na tumaas yun ng 2 million, most likely ang delivery niyan ay mid-May (We have more or less 1 million doses are scheduled to be delivered this May and we are assuming that it may increase up to 2 million, most likely, the delivery will arrive in mid-May)," Galvez, also the country's vaccine czar said during a media briefing at the Lakeshore vaccination hub in Taguig City.
Galvez said the government will focus on the deployment of more coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines to highly-urbanized areas such as Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao.
He added a steady supply of Covid-19 vaccines will be arriving by June.
"We will have a steady supply of Sinovac and Gamaleya and later we will have a steady supply this coming June with the additional volume either from Pfizer and Moderna, and also AstraZeneca this coming June," he said.
Galvez is confident that with the government's recalibrated strategy, achieving herd immunity is doable.
“We had to have a realistic target. So, in case magkaroon talaga ng (there will be) delay, we can still get the same effect (of herd immunity). We will focus on areas with high infection rates, and at the same time, with the highest economic and social impact,” he reiterated.
The vaccine czar mentioned that over 2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered in the country.
Some 58,680,803 Filipinos have to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, he noted.
Galvez said the symbolic rollout of Sputnik V in five selected Metro Manila cities is part of the government's preparation for the acceleration of the vaccination program.
The cities of Taguig, Manila, Makati, Parañaque, and Muntinlupa have each received 3,000 doses of the Russian jabs for the pilot rollout. (PNA)
