Galvez: Philippines, Johnson & Johnson to ink vaccine supply agreement soon

The Philippines is hopeful that it will be able to sign an agreement for a supply of coronavirus vaccines from American drugmaker Johnson & Johnson this week or the next, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Thursday.

“We are finalizing the language of the Johnson & Johnson [agreement] and hopefully we’ll have the signing this week or next week,” he told CNN-Philippines in a mix of English and Filipino.

Galvez also said the single-dose jab developed by Janssen, Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical arm, could be included in the portfolio of vaccines that will be donated to the country by the COVAX Facility, a global initiative for equitable vaccine access.

Janssen’s Phase 3 clinical trial for its COVID-19 vaccine is currently underway in several areas across the Philippines. 

The vaccine showed 66% efficacy in preventing COVID-19 in a large global trial against several coronavirus variants. 

It is also 85% effective against severe COVID-19 and prevents hospitalization 28 days after immunization.

The Philippines has vaccinated 240,297 health workers as of Tuesday, three weeks since it launched its vaccination program. — Julia Mari Ornedo/RSJ, GMA News