ASIDE FROM ASTRAZENECA

QC talking with four pharma firms for purchase of vaccines, Mayor Belmonte says

The Quezon City government is talking with four other pharmaceutical companies as regards the purchase of additional COVID-19 vaccines for its residents, Mayor Joy Belmote said Thursday.

"Nakikipagugnayan na rin po kami sa iba pang pharmaceutical companies para makapag-enter pa tayo sa karagdagang tripartite agreement... Actually, apat na po 'yung kausap namin ngayon," Mayor Joy Belmonte told Dobol B sa News TV.

Belmonte, however, did not disclose the names of the pharmaceutical companies.

A total of 1.1 million doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine were already secured by the local government. The number of doses could vaccinate about 550,000 city residents.

Belmonte said the vaccines are expected by the third quarter of this year.

Quezon City is one of the several local governments that signed a tripartite agreement with AstraZeneca and the national government to acquire vaccines for their constituents.

The city is already finalizing its vaccination sites, which will be scattered in nine areas across the city. — RSJ, GMA News