By National Task Force Against COVID-19

MANILA — Another 1.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines developed by Chinese manufacturer Sinovac were delivered to the Philippines on Thursday (July 28).

A Cebu Pacific plane carrying the vaccines from Beijing, China, landed at the NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City around 7:44 AM.

This brings to 18.5 million the total number of CoronaVac vaccines delivered to the country so far, including the 1 million doses donated by the government of China.

During the ceremony welcoming the arrival of the vaccines, Health Undersecretary Ma. Carolina Vidal-Taiño said the latest shipment will be deployed to the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus, Cebu, and other high-risks areas.

“Ang bulk nito ay sa NCR Plus 8, and then Cebu at sa mga lugar na may surge ngayon,” Vidal-Taiño said.

She said that once the certificate of analysis (COA) for the vaccines is issued, the vaccines will be immediately deployed to LGUs nationwide.

Meanwhile, Usec. Isidro Purisima, Deputy Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process for Operations, explained that this latest batch of vaccines are part of the “contingency plans” of the government in light of the growing threat of the Delta variant.

“Tayo ay nagpapasalamat na dumating na ulit itong vaccines natin at ito ay paghahanda nating lahat sa Delta variant,” Purisima said.

“Kailangang kailangan natin itong mga vaccines. Ang ating National Task Force at ang IATF natin ay mayroon ng contingency measures. Isa ‘yung vaccination natin para ma-preempt ‘yung pag spread ng virus. Kaya nagpapasalamat tayo kasi tuloy-tuloy ang pagdating at pag vaccinate sa mga kababayan natin.” Purisima added.

An additional 1 million doses of CoronaVac vaccines are expected to arrive on Friday, July 30. ~