3 million Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine jabs due in July, set aside for provinces

Over 3 million doses of single-shot Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccine against COVID-19 were allocated to island provinces and areas in Visayas and Mindanao, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Monday night.

In a taped briefing, Galvez said 3,239,400 doses of J&J vaccine would arrive within the week.

"Napakalaking tulong kasi one shot ang J&J at ito po ay ibibigay sa island provinces at sa lahat ng karatig-pook ng Mindanao at saka  Visayas," Galvez said.

Meanwhile, Galvez said they are eyeing to fully vaccinate 7 million people by the end of July. Of the number, 3 million will be those who were vaccinated using a single dose of J&J.

The government is also seeking to finish the second dose of health care workers by at least 90%, Galvez said.

He added that the Philippines is expected to achieve at least 14 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of this month.

The national government is also targeting a weekly average of 300,000 to 400,000 jabs daily, Galvez said.

Finish vaccination of gov't personnel by August

Galvez, meanwhile, said they are also targeting to inoculate all teachers under the Department of Education before the end of August in case the government will approve the resumption of physical classes, which were halted since last year due to the pandemic.

Aside from teachers, the vaccine czar said they hoped to finish vaccination of personnel from Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire and Protection, Department of Education, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Agriculture, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Foreign Affairs, seafarers, overseas Filipino workers, and Department of Tourism, among others.

More deliveries expected in July

Millions of COVID-19 vaccines, including those procured by the private sector, are also expected to arrive this month, Galvez said.

According to his presentation,  the anticipated deliveries are:

1 million Sinovac doses -- July 14

1.5 million Sinovac doses -- July 17

1,170,000 doses of AstraZeneca (procured by private sector) - July 18

3,239,400 doses of J&J - July 19

562,770 Pfizer doses - July 19

250,800 doses of Moderna - July 21 to 27

2.5 million Sinovac - July 24 - 25

375,570 doses of Pfizer -- July 26

2.5 million Sinovac doses

For August 2021, the government expects to receive 8.4 million doses of Sinovac, 4 million doses from COVAX, 2 million doses from Pfizer, 1,170,000 from AstraZeneca (procured by the private sector), and 1 million doses of Moderna.

Galvez noted that the AstraZeneca vaccines purchased by the private sector will arrive on August 9 to 15.

In total, 16,570,000 vaccine doses will arrive next month.—NB/LDF, GMA News