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Philippines to get 20 million doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine - Roque

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Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News 

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/01/19/vaccine.jpg"/><figcaption>A medical worker receives the Moderna coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at CHU Tivoli hospital in La Louviere, Belgium, Jan. 18, 2021.<em> Yves Herman, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA (UPDATE2) — Malacañang confirmed on Tuesday that the Philippines will get 20 million doses of Moderna&#x27;s COVID-19 vaccine, as the country pursues procurement deals with various drug firms.</p><p>Authorities have signed a term sheet for the Moderna jabs, said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.</p><p>The private sector and local governments will help pay for the shots because Moderna&#x27;s vaccine is among the &quot;most sought&quot; after and priciest, said Secretary Carlito Galvez, chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19. </p><p>&quot;Magbibigay [po ang Moderna] ng ilang vaccine sa May,&quot; he told reporters in an online briefing, but did not say how many doses.</p><p>(Moderna will send some vaccine doses in May.)</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MTNTAgMldhg?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>In a forum organized by the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, Galvez told government officials that a shot of Moderna would cost around $20 to $25.</p><p>The Philippine embassy in Washington announced last week that Manila is in the final stages of negotiations for the procurement of Moderna&#x27;s COVID-19 vaccine.</p><p>According to Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, the Philippines would be able to secure a &quot;minimum&quot; of 10 million vaccine doses from the firm, to be delivered by the middle of this year.</p><p>The agreement allows the &quot;option to purchase an additional 10 million doses,&quot; he said. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/13/21/ph-in-final-stages-of-securing-modernas-covid-19-vaccine-says-envoy-to-us">PH in &#x27;final stages&#x27; of securing Moderna&#x27;s COVID-19 vaccine, says envoy to US</a></li></ul><p>Roque said the Philippines has term sheets as well with 3 other COVID-19 vaccine makers namely, Novavax, AstraZeneca from the UK, and China&#x27;s Sinovac.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">NOW: Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque leads a press briefing. He says gov&#x27;t earmarked P82 billion for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> vaccines. <a href="https://t.co/RQyRwmpWp2">pic.twitter.com/RQyRwmpWp2</a></p>— Jamaine Punzalan (@jmnpunzalan) <a href="https://twitter.com/jmnpunzalan/status/1351381690262777856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2021</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>The government aims to begin immunization next month, hoping to inoculate 70 million people, or two-thirds of its population, this year.</p><p>Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech&#x27;s COVID-19 shots are authorized for use in Europe and the United States.</p><p>According to a Reuters report, the two aren not well-suited to lower-income countries due to expensive storage requirements.</p><p>Pfizer’s, which has already secured an EUA from the Philippines&#x27; Food and Drug Administration, has to be stored at -70°C, requiring costly equipment and infrastructure, and is expensive at roughly US$20 a dose.</p><p>Moderna’s, however, can be kept in a standard refrigerator for up to 30 days, but is even more expensive. The FDA has yet to receive Moderna&#x27;s application for EUA in the Philippines.</p><p>Low- and middle-income countries have consequently struck few direct deals to buy these vaccines.</p><p>Currently, the FDA is assessing the EUA applications of AstraZeneca, Gamaleya Institute of Russia, and Sinovac.</p><div><strong>- With a report from Reuters and Kristine Sabillo, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xcsnJxchRIA?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2lTMvhGA6Jo?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>MANILA (UPDATE) — Malacañang confirmed on Tuesday that the Philippines will get 20 million doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, as the country pursues procurement deals with various drug firms.</p>

MANILA (UPDATE) — Malacañang confirmed on Tuesday that the Philippines will get 20 million doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, as the country pursues procurement deals with various drug firms.

Philippines to get 20 million doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine - Roque

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Philippines to get 20 million doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine - Roque

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 19, 2021 12:46 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 19, 2021 07:04 PM PHT

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