Due to the big volume of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines delivered in recent weeks, the country managed to establish a stockpile of jabs that can last until August 17, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. assured late Monday night, July 19.
Galvez, vaccine czar and chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19, said there will be no vaccine shortage until mid-August as a total of 12,826,099 doses were in stock.
"The Philippines already reached its desired stockpile level of above 10 million . Sa ngayon po, sumobra pa po tayo na (Right now, we even have a surplus of) 12,826,099 in which our supply can last up to 32 days or up to August 17," Galvez said at President Duterte's pre-recorded public address.
"Ibig sabihin, kampante po tayo na sa August 17 ay hindi po tayo mahihirapan po na magkaroon ng shortage (It means that we will not experience difficulties such as a shortage until August 17)," he added.
Last week, the country received 7,142,450 doses from July 14 to 17.
The vaccines include over 3.2 million doses of Johnson and Johnson (J&J) and 1.15 million doses of AstraZeneca that were donated by the United States (US) and Japanese governments respectively; 2.5 million doses of Sinovac and 250,800 doses of Moderna that were procured by the national government from China and US.
In total, the country has received 27,922,360 doses of procured and donated vaccines since February. As of July 19, a total of 15,096,261 doses were already administered nationwide.
For the rest of the month, a total of 9,353,340 doses will be delivered in the country including Pfizer and Sinovac.
Galvez said an additional three million doses of vaccine will be donated by the global initiative Covax facility to the country either later this month or in August. China might also donate an undetermined number of Sinopharm or Sinovac jabs, he added.
"Also, we have been told by Ambassador Pruce that they are willing to donate 415,000 AstraZeneca po and they promised that they will deliver it this July," the vaccine czar bared.
The steady supply of vaccines resulted to an accelerated vaccination program, Galvez emphasized.
He said the country breached the 15 millionth mark in administered jabs on July 17, three days after it hit the 14 millionth mark on July 14.
"Ibig sabihin po, Mr. President, sa tatlong araw nakapagbabakuna po tayo ng isang milyon (Mr. President, that means we were able to vaccinate one million in just three days)," Galvez said.
The highest daily vaccination throughput, or the number of vaccines given in one day, was achieved on July 15 wuth 391,283 administered jabs.
The period from July 11 to 17 also saw the highest weekly vaccination throughput with 1,899,979 administered doses.
"With the arrival of more vaccines, achieving a better Christmas this year will be on track," Galvez said.