An initial 20,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccines from Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute is expected to be delivered this week, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go revealed.
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In a statement released on Sunday (April 11), the senator said that the first batch is up for a “pilot logistics run” since there are unique requirements for the first and second doses of the vaccine.
First Batch of Russian Vaccines ‘Sputnik V’ to be Delivered to PH This Week – Senator
The senator also revealed that the government is expecting a delivery of 20 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine from Russia, CNN Philippines reported.
Interim trial results of the Sputnik V released in November last year found that the vaccine was 92% effective at protecting people from COVID-19.
“Sa susunod na linggo, inaasahang darating ang 20,000 initial Sputnik vaccine from Russia (Next week, 20,000 initial Sputnik vaccines are expected to arrive from Russia),” he was quoted as saying in a radio interview on Saturday.
“Inaasahang 20 million po isu-supply ng Russia sa atin with first tranche of 500,000 doses this April or May (We’re expecting that Russia will supply us with 20 million doses, with first tranche of 500,000 doses this April or May),” Go added.
For his part, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said 500,000 doses of the Russian vaccine will be delivered to the country within the month.
Sputnik V is the fourth vaccine to be granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Meanwhile, FDA Director-General Eric Domingo previously said the Russia-made vaccine can only be administered to clinically healthy individuals aged 18 and above.
The Philippines on Sunday received 500,000 additional doses of the Sinovac vaccine procured from China. It earlier received 1 million doses it procured in March, on top of 1 million doses donated by the Chinese government.
Moreover, the country received 525,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the global aid initiative COVAX facility.
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