2M more Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine doses arrive in Philippines

Two million more doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in the Philippines on Thursday morning, further boosting the country's supply as it aims for achieving herd immunity within the year.

According to Ian Cruz's report on Unang Balita, the shipment consisted of the 400,000 doses purchased by the local city government of Manila. The rest were purchased by the national government.

A report by Sam Nielsen on Dobol B TV said the batch arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 at 7:26 a.m. via a chartered Cebu Pacific flight.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno welcomed the arrival of the latest batch of Sinovac vaccines.

In a statement, Cebu Pacific said more than 41,000 doses were also transported today to Tacloban and Cagayan de Oro from Manila.

Since March 2021, Cebu Pacific has flown 8 million COVID-19 doses from China, while more than 1.78 million doses have been distributed to 15 Philippine provinces.

Galvez said: “We are hugely appreciative of the efforts from Cebu Pacific and other local carriers whose expertise have enabled the safe and timely distribution of these delicate vaccine shipments, ensuring they arrive at their destinations in top condition.”

Thursday's delivery was the 12th batch of Sinovac vaccines flown to the Philippines. All in all, the country has received 11 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from Sinovac, a Chinese pharmaceutical firm.

In total, the country has received 16.2 million doses. Aside from Sinovac, the others were from AstraZeneca, Sputnik V and Pfizer-BioNTech.

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. 

Despite this, Malacañang is confident that the Philippines will not be the last to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19 in Asia.

On Wednesday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the country's vaccine supply has since improved with deliveries from global aid COVAX facility donating Pfizer and AstraZeneca doses, as well as the arrival of procured doses of Sinovac and Sputnik V of Russia.

According to the Department of Health, over 8 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered, and that at least 2.6 million Filipinos have already completed their two doses of the vaccine.

The government is eyeing to inoculate 58 million people or 70% of the population in Metro Manila, its adjacent provinces, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao to achieve herd immunity by the end of the year, given that these areas are densely populated and are economic centers.  —Joviland Rita/KBK/MDM, GMA News