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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider House leader hails resumption of India's vaccine exports

House leader hails resumption of India's vaccine exports

Published Sep 23, 2021 01:23 pm

House Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez on Thursday, September 23, expressed hope that the Philippines will achieve herd immunity against the COVID-19 faster as India is set to resume exports of coronavirus vaccines.

(UNSPLASH)

India will lift its vaccine exports ban starting October, international reports said.

“India is the largest COVID-19 vaccine producer in the world. With them reopening their vaccine exports, we can have access again to their vaccines such as Novovax, Covishield, and COVAXIN which are proven highly effective against COVID-19 and its Delta strain,” Rodriguez said in a statement.

“I believe sourcing enough supplies from them will be instrumental in our efforts to achieve herd immunity in the soonest possible time. We can accelerate our National Vaccination Program and eventually get our local government units (LGUs) and private companies to inoculate in their own areas as well,” he added.

Last April, the government of India halted the exportation of COVID-19 vaccines to focus on inoculating its population. As vaccine outputs increased, India plans to export excess supplies.

The Philippines, meanwhile, is targeting to inoculate 90 percent of the population or about 100 million Filipinos to achieve immunity versus COVID-19.

As of Sept. 19, over 22 million Filipinos have received their first dose while 18.56 million were already fully vaccinated.

“Our country is now at the Top 8 of countries with the most COVID-19 cases in the world. We cannot afford to slow down our fight against the virus. We have faith that the national government through the DOH (Department of Health) and NTF (National Task Force against COVID-19) will take the necessary steps to include India-made vaccines in the roster of existing vaccines from China, the United States, and Europe," Rodriguez appealed.

"With more vaccines on hand, combined with the signing of MPAs for the LGUs and the private sector, achieving herd immunity for the country by year end is within reach”, he added.

Rodriguez, who represents a district in Cagayan de Oro, previously called for more vaccine allocation for provinces, and for the national government to approve the agreements needed by LGUs and private companies for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.

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india covid-19 vaccine rollout herd immunity pandemic response
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