MANILA -- In the bid to support the country’s immunization campaign against COVID-19, the Bureau of Customs (BOC), through the Port of NAIA, facilitated the prompt release of 710,190 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccines for the Department of Health (DOH) on August 11, 2021.

The 10th batch of Pfizer-BioNTech shipment, which was pre-cleared on August 10 through the BOC-NAIA COVID-19 One-Stop-Shop, arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 around 9:20 PM on August 11 from Belgium via Flight No. LD457.

Earlier on August 11, around 1:55 PM, the first batch of Hayat Vax; an UAE-produced version of the Sinopharm vaccine, consisting of 100,000 doses, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) via Flight No. EY0424.

The Hayat-Vax COVID-19 vaccine was granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 11, 2021, adding to the more than 15 million doses of vaccines expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

The said vaccines were immediately transported and underguarded upon arrival to Pharmaserv Cold Storage Facility and Southern Philippines Medical Center-Davao. To date, the BOC has cleared seven vaccine brands which includes Sinovac from China, AstraZeneca from UK, Sputnik V-Gamaleya from Russia, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna from US, Johnson and Johnson from Europe, and Hayat-Vax from UAE.

With the arrival of more vaccine brands, BOC under the leadership of Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero, and the Port of NAIA, headed by District Collector Carmelita M. Talusan continue to ensure that vaccine shipments are given priority and expedited clearance to support the government in ramping up its national inoculation program as it gears towards the nation’s recovery. (BOC)