Galvez on starting vaccination by February: ‘Hindi na masama’

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Tuesday said starting the vaccination against COVID-19 in the country by February is not bad considering rich countries started theirs just recently.

“Nakita po natin 'yung February na target is hindi na po masama ‘yun,” he said in an interview on ANC television.

“’Yung mga nag-inoculate po ngayon nakita po natin 'yung mga rich countries at saka po 'yung tinatawag natin merong close ties sa mga vaccine manufacturers kasi they also paid during the development,” he added.

Galvez also pointed out that having a month of delay in starting the vaccination is an opportunity for the country to watch out for the lapses and shortcomings other countries had during their early inoculation.

“Huwag po tayong magmadali kasi nga po mas maganda po 'yun at least ma-delay tayo ng kahit isang buwan  kasi makakapag-prepare tayo nang maayos,” he added.

According to Galvez, COVID-19 vaccines from manufacturer Pfizer could be the first that will be used in the Philippines’

Galvez said he will meet with the COVAX Facility – Gavi on Tuesday to discuss the early rollout of the vaccination in either the second or third week of February.

Aside from this, the government is also expecting by the same month that at least 50,000 Filipinos will be vaccinated against COVID-19 using Sinovac vaccines. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA News