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Philippines eyes Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine for seniors

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/03/17/20210310-covid19-gcq-financial-assistance-jc.jpg"/><figcaption>People queue to claim financial assistance in Pasay City as they remain under community quarantine on March 10, 2021. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div><p> <br/>MANILA — The Philippines is eyeing giving its 9 million senior citizens the COVID-19 vaccine from Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech, an official leading the inoculation strategy said on Wednesday. </p><p>Authorities have secured a stockpile of 600,000 Sinovac shots so far, and <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/16/21/philippines-to-get-14-million-sinovac-covid-19-shots-this-march">1.4 million</a> more doses of this vaccine are expected in March. </p><p>Sinovac has shown “very limited” adverse effects and low wastage at just 2 vials, said Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19. </p><p>“Titingnan natin iyong possibility na talagang iyong Sinovac din po,” he said, when asked which vaccine the government would give to the elderly. </p><p>(We are looking at the possibility of Sinovac.) </p><p>Senior citizens will get COVID-19 shots after health workers, who are expected to complete the first round of their vaccination in April. The government will &quot;most likely&quot; finish vaccinations of the elderly in May, Galvez said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/17/21/nearly-241000-out-of-17-million-health-workers-vaccinated-against-covid-19-official">Nearly 241,000 out of 1.7 million health workers vaccinated against COVID-19: official</a></li></ul><p>Among the hardest-hit in Asia by the pandemic, the Philippines aims to vaccinate 70 million people or two-thirds of its population this year. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/16/21/govt-eyes-general-public-vaccination-by-april-or-may-covid-19-elimination-in-2022">Gov&#x27;t eyes general public vaccination by April or May, COVID-19 &#x27;elimination&#x27; in 2022 </a></li></ul><p>The Philippines is battling a spike in coronavirus infections, tallying over 4,000 new COVID-19 cases for a fifth straight on Tuesday. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/17/21/philippines-covid-19-outbreak-pandemic-peak-march-2021-like-july-2020-says-doh">Back to July level: COVID-19 cases peak anew, infection clusters in households, workplaces</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1641642" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar" style="text-align:center"><em>Video courtesy of Kapihan sa Manila Bay </em></div><div> </div>

<p>MANILA — The Philippines is eyeing giving its 9 million senior citizens the COVID-19 vaccine from Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech, an official leading the inoculation strategy said on Wednesday. <br /> </p>

MANILA — The Philippines is eyeing giving its 9 million senior citizens the COVID-19 vaccine from Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech, an official leading the inoculation strategy said on Wednesday.