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With the signature of a supply deal for 40 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, the Philippine government has undertaken the largest vaccine purchase for 2021.

The National Task Force against Covid-19 main implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. stated this on Sunday.

“We are pleased to announce that our talks between the government and Pfizer’s management have finally ended. “I signed the supply agreement for the largest and most significant transaction we have for 2021 yesterday (Saturday) with (Health) Secretary (Francisco) Duque,” Galvez added.

“I’d want to express my gratitude to my colleagues on the Philippine vaccine negotiation team from the Department of Finance, as well as our multilateral partner, for working hard to obtain these much-needed vaccines for 20 million Filipinos,” he said.

The vaccine czar said that delivery of 40 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines would commence in August “after eight weeks,” and will be supplied in bulk.

“Vaccine demand has started to lessen for many large and wealthy nations, since most have already purchased more than enough vaccines for their populations and immunized many of their people. This has enabled the manufacturer to guarantee to us that supplies would be in bulk, even if they are still done in tranches,” he said.

A multilateral agreement with the Asian Development Bank will be used to fund the purchase of 40 million vaccination doses (ADB).

According to Galvez, loan money from multilateral partners like the ADB use a direct distribution system, in which payments are sent directly to the vaccine producer by the fund manager.

“The Filipino people can be guaranteed that our vaccine procurement transactions would be transparent since the money will not travel through the hands of any government person or agency,” he said.

The Philippines has now secured the delivery of 113 million medicines from five manufacturers, namely Sinovac with 26 million doses, Sputnik V with 10 million doses, Moderna with 20 million doses, AstraZeneca with 17 million doses, and Pfizer with 40 million doses.

The COVAX Facility has also agreed to provide 44 million doses this year, increasing the total amount of doses obtained by the Philippines to 157 million.

Meanwhile, Novavax and Johnson & Johnson are still negotiating over 16 million doses.

“The Pfizer vaccinations will substantially enhance our national immunization campaign, allowing us to meet our objective of establishing herd immunity by the end of the year. This is another another good step that will ensure that all Filipinos have a joyful and prosperous Christmas,” Galvez added.

Local governments must be prepared.

With the verified purchased supply from Pfizer, Galvez emphasized that local government unit (LGU) readiness is “imperative.”

“We want to remind LGUs that highly sensitive vaccines like Pfizer, Moderna, and Sputnik V need third-party logistics and cold-chain service providers. We don’t want any vaccines to go to waste due to deterioration or mishandling,” stated the vaccination czar.

Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines must be stored at minus 80 to minus 60 degrees Celsius, whereas Moderna and Sputnik need minus 20 degrees Celsius.

The government would distribute the Pfizer dosages to all provinces and regions, according to Galvez.

“We plan to deploy the Pfizer, Sputnik V, and Moderna vaccines as quickly as feasible, and to distribute them to rural regions and villages as well. This will not be feasible, however, if the recipient LGU is not prepared to handle these vaccines,” Galvez said.

According to him, Pfizer and Moderna will be delivered at the same time as the national vaccination program opens to the entire public, including children aged 12 to 15.

The NTF emphasized, however, that the adult population and vulnerable groups would continue to get priority in the immunization campaign.

As the country’s vaccine stockpile grows and the inoculation of key sectors is completed, Galvez believes the immunization of 12 to 15-year-olds will take place later this year.

PHOTO: Courtesy of CANVA Premium

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