Philippine Embassy working to have Pfizer vaccines delivered earlier, says envoy

The Philippine Embassy in the United States is working with other government agencies to have the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine delivered to the Philippines earlier than what was targeted.

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez made the remark on Sunday amid the country's continued quest to procure vaccines against COVID-19.

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview, Romualdez said following the delay in the process of the procurement of the Pfizer vaccine, the expected delivery to the Philippines has been moved to mid-2021. However, there is a possibility that this may happen earlier.

"Kausap ko lang si Secretary [Carlito] Galvez at mukhang may pag-asa tayo, baka makuha natin, hindi lang natin malaman eksakto how early," he said.

"Siyempre medyo naiwanan tayo, so midyear ang delivery. Pero baka makuha natin mas maaga. So we're hoping maski April siguro," he added.

Aside from the one from Pfizer, the Philippines may also be able to get the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson, Romualdez said.

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration has approved the Phase 3 clinical trial application of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

"Meron pang ibang mga vaccine that will be approved shortly. 'Yung Janssen, isang shot lang 'yun. Posibleng makuha natin 'yun even early also," Romualdez said.

"We're in coordination with Sec. Galvez na baka makuha natin ang vaccines galing dito sa Amerika nang mas maaga. Siya ang mag-a-announce niyan kasi nandiyan na sa kanya lahat ng information tsaka lahat ng mga kausap namin dito, sila ang nakikipag-usap nang diretso kay Sec. Galvez," he added.

Pfizer, an American firm, in December 2020 submitted to the Food and Drug Administration an application for emergency use authorization. The FDA said decision will be out by January 14.

Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine has been proven at least 95% effective after human trials.

Since then, it has secured EUA (emergency use authorization) from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Singapore, among others.

Around 50 million to 70 million Filipinos are expected to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in 2021, according to the government.

Last month, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer were supposed to be delivered to the Philippines in January 2021 but "somebody dropped the ball."

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III belied Locsin's claims then, saying that COVID-19 vaccine negotiations with Pfizer were still ongoing. —KG, GMA News