PH has access to 44 M doses of COVID-19 vaccine from COVAX Facility this year -WHO

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (right) and WHO Representative Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe (left) during the handover of the personal protective equipment for the use of health workers. Photo credit : WHO/F. Tanggol

CALOOCAN CITY, Feb. 5 (PIA) -- The Philippines is set to have access to 44 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the COVAX Facility this year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

“We are looking potentially at a maximum of 9.2 million doses coming through the COVAX facility by March or April of this year,” WHO Representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said in a statement.

Abeyansinghe added that the country will receive 9.2 million AstraZeneca vaccines if it can reach its target manufacturing capacity.

WHO cited that the COVAX facility will also deliver approximately 117,000 doses of Pfizer BioNTech in the second or third week of February.

“The goal of COVAX is to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines, and to guarantee fair and equitable access for every country in the world.” Dr. Abeyasinghe said.

He added that the COVAX facility likewise aims to minimize the impact of the pandemic by saving lives and facilitating quick economic recovery.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) has ensured readiness in utilizing the private-sector led cold-chain facilities and manpower once the COVID-19 vaccines arrive.

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque, for his part, said most of the vaccines arriving would be currently requiring  2 to 8 degrees on the logistical side.

He also said the Philippines already have in place facilities and equipment for these kinds of temperature-sensitive vaccines.

“With these ultra-low freezers, we have end-to-end agreements with manufacturers where they will assist us from the time that the vaccines arrive here, from storage to distribution,” Duque III said.

The health department ensures that there will be no wastage in the rollout of the government's COVID-19 immunization program. (PIA NCR)