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15,000 doses of 'trial order' Sputnik V vaccines on their way to Philippines


The first shipment of 15,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccines has left Russia and is now on its way to the Philippines, Ambassador Carlos Sorreta said in a Facebook post on Thursday night. 

Sorreta said the vaccines versus COVID-19 would arrive "by May 1."

Logistical issues have delayed of the trial order which was supposed to arrive on Wednesday.

The Russian vaccines need to be stored at -20°C, thus the trial order. The rest of the vaccines from Russia will consist of 480,000 doses.  

The 480,000 doses was initially scheduled to arrive on Thursday along with 500,000 Sinovac doses, which arrived as scheduled.

The Palace said among the “challenges” for the delivery of the vaccines were the absence of direct flights from Russia to the Philippines, and the required temperature for the vaccine's storage.

At a Palace news conference, the government’s vaccine czar said an initial 15,000 Sputnik V doses are expected to arrive on April 25

Galvez said 195,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine from the COVAX Facility might arrive by the end of the month.

The Philippines is set to receive 1 to 2 million Sputnik V shots in May and 2 million in June, he added.

"First shipment of Sputnik V vaccines (15,000 doses) left today, 29 April, from Moscow and should be in Manila by 1 May. More to come in the next weeks and months," Sorreta said.

"Thank you to President Putin, Foreign Minister Lavrov and Foreign Ministry officials, the Russian Direct Investment Fund and the Gamaleya Institute for their cooperation, patience and understanding," he added. —NB, GMA News

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