The national government is looking forward to the vaccination of about 50 to 70 million Filipinos this year to stem the spread of COVID-19.
This was emphasized by Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 and vaccination czar, on Wednesday as he said that the implementation of the National Vaccine Roadmap is "on track".
He said the government is working on securing 148 million doses of vaccines from multiple manufacturers and sources.
"Based on our current negotiations, we will be able to purchase at least 148 million doses from more or less seven manufacturers," Galvez said in a "Laging Handa" press briefing.
"Sa ilalim po ng National Vaccine Roadmap, babakunahan po natin ang mahigit kumulang 50 to 70 million Filipinos sa loob ng taong ito (Under the National Vaccine Roadmap, we will vaccinate more or less 50 to 70 million Filipinos this year)," he added.
Galvez said the government is currently in advanced negotiations with AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Novavax, Johnson and Johnson, Sinovac, and Gamaleya for the use of their candidate vaccines in the country.
"We hope to close the deals with these companies this month," he noted.
Galvez said that the country also stands to receive fully-subsidized doses for 20 percent of country's population or about 22 million Filipinos through the Covax facility, a World Health Organization (WHO)-led global solidarity trial for the creation and acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines.
The government is also in talks with at least three other vaccine manufacturers for the availability of Moderna, Sinopharm, and, Cansino vaccines.
However, the vaccine czar pointed out that the actual number of the vaccines that will be secured by the country depends on the global supply.
Currently, he said more than 80 percent of the world's available COVID-19 vaccine supply has already been secured by the rich countries.
Rollout
Meanwhile, the government is already preparing for the rollout of the vaccines once they become available in the country. Galvez earlier said that the first supply of the vaccines may be available by March or April 2021.
He said the government will prioritize the vaccination of healthcare workers to ensure that the public health system will be protected amid the ongoing fight against the pandemic.
Also in the priority list are the vulnerable and indigent senior citizens, poor communities, uniformed personnel, teachers and school workers, government workers, other essential workers, vulnerable and co-morbidity groups, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), other remaining work forces, and students.
Whole-of government approach
Galvez pointed out that the National Vaccination Roadmap is an ambitious program that can be achieved if all sectors of society will cooperate with the government.
He said the national government is in talks with the private sector for their support in the procurement of vaccines and the provision of cold storage facilities.
These facilities are crucial in the preservation of the vaccines which require below zero degree Celsius temperature for their storage, he noted.
Galvez said President Duterte recently approved his recommendation to allow local government units (LGUs) to buy the vaccines for their constituents. Galvez made the recommendation in a televised meeting with Duterte on Monday night.
"Sinasabi ng mga LGUs na (The LGUs were saying that) they are willing to spare their resources to the government. They know na napakahirap po ng burden ng (the big burden faced by the) national government. With that, we recommended the approval of the tripartite agreement. The President approved it immediately," he said.
The tripartite agreement will allow local government units to deal with the national government and a vaccine manufacturer for the supply of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Galvez reminded the public to continue to adhere to the minimum health standards such as the use of face shield and face mask, observance of social distancing, and the practice of proper hygiene to avoid catching the virus.
He said the minimum health standards remain to be the best fighting tool to ward off COVID-19.=