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Philippines, Indian firm in talks for at least 8M COVID-19 vaccine doses
By JULIA MARI ORNEDO, GMA News The Philippines and Indian firm Bharat Biotech are in talks for a supply of at least 8 million coronavirus vaccine doses, Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran said Wednesday.
Kumaran said discussions are ongoing as Bharat Biotech awaits emergency use authorization (EUA) for Covaxin, its COVID-19 vaccine, from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“There are ongoing conversations for a supply for Covaxin which can range anywhere from 8 million doses upwards. I don’t think we are in a position to be signing anything yet,” he said in an ANC interview.
Kumaran clarified that formal negotiations have not yet begun as Bharat Biotech only submitted its Phase 3 clinical trial data to the FDA on Tuesday.
“The company has had one or two presentations with the FDA, but the commercial negotiations, which involve signing of a term sheet and then eventually moving to a contract, those are still pending,” he said.
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“Once we close the contract, the nature of the vaccine requires at least 45 days for the production to be completed. We could look at 8 to 20 million over the next year and a half, but how much of that will come early is actually the big question,” he added.
Bharat Biotech filed an application for EUA on January 21.
Covaxin showed 81% efficacy in preventing symptomatic COVID-19.
The FDA has so far granted EUA to the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, and Sinovac.—AOL, GMA News