20M Moderna vaccine doses from US face delay, says envoy

Some 20 million doses of American pharmaceutical firm Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, which are expected to arrive in the Philippines in late May, might be slightly delayed, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo’s report on “24 Oras,” Romualdez said the delay is due to the United State’s policy on vaccine export.

“There’s sort of like a ban for exporting these vaccines coming from the United States because of the domestic demand,” Romualdez said.

He added that the recent pause in the use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine in the US also resulted in the setback.

Earlier, US regulators have recommended halting the use of J&J’s COVID-19 shot as they investigate rare blood clotting in six women, including one who died.

“[T]he administration wants to buy at least 400 million doses by middle of May and unfortunately because of the recent setback of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, this may be delayed again,” Romualdez.

Further, the US denied that it is banning vaccine export.

In the 20 million Moderna shots expected to arrive in the country, 13 million doses are for the government, while seven million doses are for the private sector.

Moderna, meanwhile, assured that the delivery will begin in June.

“Moderna assures us that the target date of June 15 will still remain in place but the early one that we tried to request may not be possible. There’s been a delay already as it is but the setback with J&J, they will need another week or two to be able to determine whether these vaccines will continue to be administered here in the United States,” Romualdez said.

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration is still waiting for Moderna’s application for an emergency use application for its COVID-19 vaccine. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News