This is it.
The country's first batch of Sinovac vaccines is expected to be delivered to the country this coming Sunday, paving the way for the possible vaccine rollout out the next day.
The forthcoming shipment of 600,000 doses of vaccines constitutes China's donations to the Philippines, according to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque.
"Tatlong tulog na lang po parating na ang bakuna. Inaasahan na darating sa araw ng Linggo, itong Linggong ito ang Sinovac kaya excited na tayong lahat (Only three sleeps left before the arrival of the vaccines. We expect the Sinovac vaccines to arrive this coming Sunday so we are all excited)," Roque said during a press briefing aired on state television.
"Inaasahan natin, at least ang pinaplano natin na sasalubungin ng mga opisyal ang pagdating ng mga bakuna. Maraming salamat muli sa Sinovac at Tsina dahil sa parating na paunang bakuna para sa Pilipino (We expect, at least we plan that officials will welcome the arrival of the vaccines. Thank you again to Sinovac and China for the forthcoming vaccines for Filipinos)," he said.
The country's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of Chinese-made vaccines for emergency use. It however did not recommend the use of the vaccines to health workers due to varied efficacy rates. The delivery of the Sinovac jabs was delayed for a few days due to the lack of regulatory approval.
The Palace earlier said President Duterte wanted to be present in welcoming the arrival of the Sinovac vaccine supply. Duterte, who has offered to be vaccinated in public, however, expressed a preference for the vaccine developed by another Chinese company Sinopharm.
Roque said the Palace legal team is currently studying whether he could take the shot under the compassionate use permit given to the Presidential Security Group. "It’s up to the President pa rin kung magpapaturok po siya ng Sinovac, although he has expressed his preference for Sinopharm," he said.
With the anticipated arrival of the Sinovac vaccines, Roque said the government's vaccine rollout would likely take place on Monday. The tentative venue launch is the state-owned Philippine General Hospital. "All we need is one day and then we will roll out. We can roll out on Monday,” he said.
The country's medical frontliners will remain on top of the priority list of beneficiaries but will not be forced to take the Sinovac vaccines, he added.
Roque echoed the assurance made by vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. about the safety and efficacy of the Sinovac vaccines. Among the world leaders who took the Sinovac vaccine cited by Roque are Indonesian President Joko Widow, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam.
Roque said the government did everything to ensure the arrival of the western vaccine brands, including the passage of a proposed indemnity law sought by the drug manufacturers. But for now, the country will get the first supply from China.
"Ang darating na sa araw ng Linggo ay Sinovac. Ligtas ito at epektibo (Sinovac will arrive the Sunday. This is safe and effective)," he said.