The private sector is gearing up for the smooth vaccination rollout for its workforce with the anticipated arrival of millions of AstraZeneca and Moderna coronavirus vaccines in the coming months.
According to Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, the imminent arrival of the additional coronavirus vaccines brings hope to a brighter Christmas and New Year for Filipinos. He noted that the vaccination of the country's workers will help promote business activity, allow safe mobility, and spur economic growth in the country.
Over 3.4 million doses of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines are scheduled to arrive in July and August, the initial batch of the 17 million procured by the private sector and local government units. Additional vaccines made by Moderna, Novavax, and Covaxin secured by private companies are also expected to be delivered in the coming months.
“With these millions of vaccines arriving and if both the private and public sectors implement the vaccine rollout well, then we will definitely have a merrier Christmas and have a great start to a new year in 2022,” Concepcion said.
Citing his recent conversation with AstraZeneca CEO Lotis Ramin, Concepcion expressed confidence the shipment of the first 1.7 million doses will arrive in July. Another 1.7 million AstraZeneca jabs are expected to be delivered in August.
The AstraZeneca doses were originally scheduled to arrive in the country this month but the shipment was reportedly pushed back due to delay in production at a Thailand plant.
Apart from AstraZeneca, Concepcion said the Moderna vaccines, facilitated by port magnate Enrique Razon's company, will arrive in the third quarter of the year. The Indian-made vaccines Novovax and Covaxin, that will be brought in by by emergency use authorization holders Faberco and Ambica under the Dose of Hope project of Go Negosyo, are also expected to be delivered during this period.
The vaccination program for the A4 priority group or the essential workers meantime is scheduled to be launched on Monday, June 7, at the SM Mall of Asia. The intensified vaccine rollout is part of the government's goal to attain population protection in Metro Manila before the end of the year.
“With the vaccination program now reaching our economic frontliners and others in essential sectors, we can expect more economic activity to happen and this will hopefully mean the return of jobs lost and the confidence in our economic growth prospects,” Concepcion said.