PASAY CITY -- The Philippines continues to receive a steady supply of Sinovac vaccines with the arrival of another 3 million doses of the China-made jabs on Tuesday afternoon, August 31.

In an interview, NTF Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer and vaccine czar Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. said these vaccines will be deployed mostly to Region 4-A, Region 3, and other regions that are experiencing surges in infections such as Region 6, 7 and 8.

Galvez gave the assurance that the bulk of the vaccines arriving this September will be allocated to the provinces and regions, particularly those with high cases.

On the other hand, the vaccines to be deployed in the National Capital Region (NCR) will be for second doses.
“Karamihan dito na pupuntahan ng ating delivery sa September is basically sa mga probinsya at different regions. I believe ang NCR mostly ang ibibigay natin dito ‘yung mga second dose lang. Karamihan nito ‘yung mga first dose doon sa mga areas na nagkakaroon ng surge.” he explained.

“‘Yung mga nasa alert level 4, at the same time, ‘yung matataas [ang cases sa] mga areas like for example Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, ‘yung area ng Ilocos at mga provinces na nakikita nating tumataas ang kaso, ‘yun ang binibigyan natin ng prayoridad,” he added.

A total 29.5 million doses of Sinovac vaccines have so far been delivered to the country, of which 27,600,000 doses were procured by the national government.

This latest shipment brings to 51,885,590 the total COVID-19 vaccine doses delivered to the country.

As of August 31, the Philippines has administered 33,306,355 doses, of which 19,469,998 Filipinos have received the first dose, while 13,836,357 individuals are now fully vaccinated. (National Task Force Against COVID-19)