COVID-19 vaccination may start in March —Roque

The government's vaccination program against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may start in March should the vaccines arrive in the Philippines in the latter half of February, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Thursday.

According to Joseph Morong’s report on “24 Oras,” while the government previously said that the vaccine developed by Chinese firm Sinovac will arrive by February 20, it will take officials 10 days to inspect the vaccines.

“Baka Marso na kung darating po ng February 20. Pero sana po nga mapabilisan para at least within February, may una na maturukan with Sinovac,” Roque said.

However, the government is hoping that the vaccination program will push through in February using vaccines provided by the World Health Organization's COVAX scheme.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the Philippines' application has been approved and that the country will receive 30 to 40 million doses from the global access facility.

“Ito ay darating po this coming February at sa ngayon po, wala pa po tayong definite kung ano pong vaccine ang muunang i-employ. But most likely ‘yung Pfizer. We are preparing for Pfizer,” Galvez said. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News