A batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine intended for children aged 5 to 11 years old is expected to be delivered from the United States (US) to the Philippines by the third week of January, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said.
Romualdez disclosed that around 5 to 10 million doses are poised to arrive in the country this month.
"We just had a meeting the other day with Pfizer together with Secretary (Carlito) Galvez and we discussed the possibility of having these delivered earlier," the Filipino diplomat said in an ANC interview Thursday, Jan. 13.
"I understand that they are working now. Pfizer is working hard in getting this to the Philippines by the third week of this month and hopefully, more by February," he added.
On Sunday, Jan. 9, an additional 2,703,870 doses of the Pfizer vaccines arrived in the country.
It is part of the 500 million Pfizer doses the US is making available for distribution through COVAX, a global initiative to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
As the largest donor to the COVAX facility, the United States has facilitated the delivery of over 65 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to the Philippines, including nearly 25 million doses provided by the American people.
READ MORE: US donates over 2.7-M doses of Pfizer COVID vaccines
Meanwhile, the Philippines is looking to vaccinate around 90 million Filipinos by June this year.
According to Galvez, the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years old or the pediatric sector will help the government achieve its 90-million target by June.