The Philippines has 100 million Covid-19 vaccine doses yet to be deployed, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Wednesday.
In a virtual presser, Galvez said these vaccine doses were all scheduled to be distributed this year.
The government had allocated P45 billion for the procurement of booster shots against Covid-19.
Galvez said the amount had yet to be spent because the government remained in negotiations for lower vaccine prices.
“Considering also that next administration will take over, we intended not to use this P45 billion since the remaining 100 million doses in the stockpile can […] suffice the 2022 vaccination,” he said.
The Philippine government is planning to vaccinate 100 percent of Filipinos by June, before President Rodrigo Duterte’s term ends.
Nearly 67 million Filipinos have completed their vaccinations against Covid-19 as of April 18. More than 65 million have yet to receive their second doses.
The Philippines is preparing to roll out second booster shots for Filipinos. John Ezekiel J. Hirro