Galvez signs tripartite agreement with Moderna, Razon group for 20M doses of COVID-19 vaccine

The Philippine national government and the private sector has signed a tripartite deal with American biotechnology company Moderna for the acquisition of COVID-19 vaccine doses.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo’s report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, a total of 20 million vaccine doses would be procured under the agreement, which was signed by vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. and private sector representative Enrique Razon.

Of these 20 million doses, seven million will be allocated for the private sector.

Galvez thanked Razon and Philippine envoy to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez for helping in acquiring the vaccine doses.

Meanwhile, presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said the private sector might start receiving a million doses of India’s COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin in April.

However, the vaccine, which was developed by Indian firm Bharat Biotech, has yet to be issued an emergency use authorization by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration.

So far, the Philippines has received 600,000 Sinovac doses and 525,600 AstraZeneca shots for the country's vaccination drive that started at the start of this month. -- Ma. Angelica Garcia/BAP, GMA News