Faberco Life Sciences, Inc. founder Kishore Hemlani (left) and Philippine vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. sign a deal for 30 million doses of the Covovax vaccine. (Photo from SSI)
The Philippines has come to terms with drug manufacturer Novavax, the Serum Institute of India (SII) and Faberco Life Sciences for 30 million doses of Covovax Covid-19 vaccines, Malacañang announced on Monday.
The vaccines are set to arrive by the third quarter of 2021.
“Within July, August, September mag-i-start po ang delivery… para maabot iyong 30 million doses. More or less, five to six months. Matagal na po siguro iyong six months na makumpleto po iyong delivery,” Dr. Luningning Villa, Faberco Life Sciences medical director, said in a Palace briefing.
Roque said SII was the “biggest vaccine manufacturer worldwide.”
Covovax is undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials in the UK, US and Mexico.
The Covovax vaccine, Palace spokesman Harry Roque touted, could be stored in 2 to 8°C storage units. Other vaccines, including Pfizer’s, require storage in subzero-temperature facilities, which the country lacks.
The Philippine government has allocated P73.2 billion for the Covid-19 vaccination of 60 million Filipinos.
In June, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured President Rodrigo Duterte that the Philippines would “definitely benefit” from India’s Covid-19 vaccine once it finishes development. John Ezekiel J. Hirro###