1.5M doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine arrive in the Philippines

The flight carrying the largest shipment of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine so far arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Friday morning, according to GMA News' Ian Cruz.

The Cebu Pacific flight was carrying 1.5 million doses of Sinovac's vaccine that were purchased by the Philippine government.

In a statement, Cebu Pacific said the shipment, which came from China, arrived at NAIA via Flight 5J 671 at 8:13 a.m.

Upon unloading from Cebu Pacific's A330 aircraft, all vaccines were thoroughly inspected by the authorities prior to uplifting to refrigerated trucks via electric forklifts.

A report by Bam Alegre on Unang Balita said the shipment would be welcomed by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr.

In a statement, Cebu Pacific said the shipment arrived at NAIA via Flight 5J 671 at 8:13 a.m.

"This large shipment of COVID vaccines with Cebu Pacific brings us closer to our goal of protecting every Filipino as fast as possible," Galvez said in the Cebu Pacific statement.

In total, 5 million doses of Sinovac vaccine have arrived in the Philippines -- 1,500,000 on May 7; 500,000 on April 29; 500,000 on April 22; 500,000 on April 11; 1,000,000 on March 29; 400,000 on March 24; and 600,000 on February 28.

The February 28 and March 24 shipments were donated by the Chinese government to the Philippines.

Based on Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluation of Sinovac's vaccine, it has the following efficacy rates:

• 65% to 91% among healthy individuals aged 18 to 59,
• 50.4% for health workers, and
• 51% to 52% on senior citizens or those aged 60 and above

Sinovac's vaccine is given in two doses.

The Philippines officially rolled out its vaccination program on March 1 but it has been hampered by supply problems.   --KBK, GMA News