Delivery of Covovax vaccine doses to be completed in 5 to 6 months —SII partner

The delivery of 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine Covovax will be completed in five to six months, according to the local partner of the Serum Institute of India (SII) on Monday.

The Philippines earlier signed the term sheet to secure doses of the vaccine from SII, with the delivery expected to begin in the third quarter of 2021.

“Within July, August, September, mag-i-start po ang delivery para maabot iyong 30 million doses,” said Faberco Life Sciences Inc. medical director Dr. Luningning Villa at a Palace press briefing.

“More or less, five to six months [ang aabutin]. Matagal na po siguro iyong six months na makumpleto po iyong delivery.”

Covovax, developed by biotech firm Novavax in partnership with SII, is currently undergoing third-stage trials in the United Kingdom with 15,000 subjects, as well as in the United States and Mexico with 30,000 subjects. It also underwent trials in Australia, South Africa, and India.

“We hope to have the EUA [emergency use authorization]. Most likely, mauuna in particular pala, UK. Kasi mauuna sila matatapos ng clinical trial,” Villa said.

“And of course, with that, with the results din ng Phase 3, magkakaroon din hopefully tayo ng emergency use authorization dito sa Pilipinas by FDA [Food and Drug Administration].”

Villa said Covovax will be used to vaccinate 15 million vulnerable and poor Filipinos.

She also said the vaccine is stable at 2°C to 8°C, the standard temperature that is within the existing cold chain system in the Philippines, thus allowing its distribution to the remotest barangays.

The Philippines aims to secure as much as 148 million doses from seven to eight vaccine makers. — BM, GMA News