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100M jabs in stockpile can suffice 2022 vax ops: Galvez

By Lade Jean Kabagani

April 20, 2022, 6:58 pm

<p><em>(PNA file photo)</em></p>

(PNA file photo)

MANILA – The remaining 100 million coronavirus vaccine doses in the stockpile are enough for this year's vaccination operations, National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 chief implementer, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., said Wednesday.

“We are confident we can distribute and administer these 100 million doses this year,” Galvez, who is also the vaccine czar, said in a media forum.

Galvez said the remaining stockpile will be used in the administration of 10 million doses to pediatric age groups, 60 million doses as booster shots, 1.8 million doses for senior citizens and even 24 million doses for fourth dose or second booster shots.

“Part of our strategy is that those we have procured from last year, it can suffice to 2022,” he added.

The government has earlier allocated PHP45.3 billion for the procurement of Covid-19 vaccine booster shots for this year.

“Hindi na po natin nagamit yun sa ngayong year dahil napababa po naitn ang presyo ng (We haven’t used it for this year because we were able to reduce the price of) vaccine during our first negotiation,” Galvez said.

“Yung savings po natin ay nagagamit natin sa 2022 vaccination (We were able to use our savings for 2022 vaccination),” he added.

The 144 million doses programmed for last year were already used up—with 66.9 million already receiving two primary series and 12.5 million with booster shots while 5.1 million individuals waiting for their second doses.

Galvez said the allotted PHP45.3 billion were supposed to be the government’s multi-lateral loans with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank, and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

“Considering also that next administration will take over, we intended not to use this PHP45 billion since the remaining 100 million doses in the stockpile can sufficiently—suffice the 2022 vaccination,” he added.

Galvez said the Duterte administration has already procured the necessary number of vaccine supplies needed for this year’s vaccination program.

“Para po wala ng problema ang next administration (So that there will be no problem anymore for the next administration),” he added. (PNA)

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