Initial batch of Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine to be used for fine-tuning of logistics — envoy

The initial batch or 20,000 doses of Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine will be used to “fine-tune logistics” to ensure that its temperature requirement will be met, the Philippine ambassador to Russia said Tuesday.

Ambassador Carlos Sorreta said the 20,000 doses will be delivered to the country “within the next few days.”

“My understanding is we have complied with their requirements because they would not deliver unless they’re satisfied with our logistics, that’s why the first 20,000 [doses] will be used to fine-tune logistics on our end,” he said, partly in Filipino, at a Palace briefing.

The Sputnik V vaccine needs to be stored at -18 degrees Celsius. The two vaccines currently available in the Philippines—those developed by Sinovac and AstraZeneca—only require normal refrigerator temperatures of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius.

Sorreta said an additional shipment of almost 500,000 doses will be delivered to the Philippines in late April or early May.

“Over the next few months, we’re going [for] seven figures, about 20 million doses before the end of the year,” he added.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said the government expects to receive 20 million doses of Sputnik V over the next four months. 

“We have to be cognizant of the realities. The demand is very high for the vaccine and the best we can do is to try to lock in the supplies,” Sorreta said.

“Of course, we have to manage expectations. There could be problems in production. Many things can come up.”

The Philippines has so far received over 3 million doses of the Sinovac and AstraZeneca jab, more than 1.4 million of which have been administered to health workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities. — RSJ, GMA News