469,200 more Moderna vaccine doses arrive in the Philippines

A total of 469,200 more doses of Moderna vaccines arrived in the Philippines on Sunday afternoon, to augment the country's supply for its vaccination program against COVID-19.

According to state media PTV, the plane carrying the shipment, purchased by national government and the private sector, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 at around 3 p.m.

At a press conference in NAIA, Galvez told state-run media that 150,000 out of the 469,200 doses will be given to the private sector.

Galvez also said they expect more vaccines to arrive in the remaining days of August and in September.

"This coming August and September, we will be having 20 to 30 million more doses," he said.

Meanwhile, Galvez said they are negotiating with Pfizer and Moderna for on-time delivery of COVID-19 jabs to ensure a steady supply of vaccines.

LOOK: Arrival of 469,200 doses of Moderna Vaccine via Singapore Airlines flight SQ 912 at NAIA Terminal 3. | via @dzbbsamnielsen pic.twitter.com/jxCTmyMQ3n

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) August 15, 2021

On 8th August, 326,400 doses of Moderna vaccine  arrived in the country and were mostly deployed in Metro Manila, where most cases of the more transmissible Delta coronavirus variant were confirmed. 

Metro Manila is under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until Aug. 20, in a bid to contain the spread of the Delta variant.

Authorities have yet to decide if the strictest lockdown classification in the will be extended.

On Saturday, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the possibility of extending the ECQ in Metro Manila for another three weeks was not yet on the table, and that rumors that the lockdown will be extended up to five weeks was fake information. —LBG, GMA News