The Philippines is expected to receive a total of 30 million doses of Novovax vaccine from India sometime during the second quarter and early third quarter of 2021, Indian Ambassador to Manila Shambhu Kumaran said on Thursday.
“Novovax is pretty much a done deal. We are hoping (vaccine czar) Secretary (Carlito) Galvez will be able to announce that news as soon as possible,” Kumaran said during the regular press briefing in Malacañang.
Galvez, together with representatives from the Departments of Health and Finance, is in India to negotiate the procurement of Novavax from its Indian manufacturer, Serum Institute of India (SSI). “The discussions are underway for the 30 million doses and I believe the Philippine side is interested in the larger number, and that detail is currently being negotiated,” the Indian envoy said.
Kumaran said he was so far “very happy” with the development, noting that the expected arrival of Novovax in the Philippines will provide the backbone for the country’s vaccination effort in the second half of 2021. Aside from Novovax, India and the Philippines are also engaged in the negotiations for the commercial supply of Indian-made coronavirus vaccine, Covaxin.
Ambassador Kumaran said they are expecting the early issuance of emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Covaxin, especially now that the phase three efficacy data of the vaccine has been checked. “When Secretary Galvez and his team are back, we should be able to commence that engagement,” he said. Covaxin is India’s homegrown government-backed vaccine that has an interim efficacy rate of 81 percent, “making it one of the best vaccines in the world,” according to Kumaran.