A deal for the Philippines to buy 30 million virus vaccine doses by the third quarter of 2021 was signed with the Serum Institute of India at the weekend, the Philippine Star and other news reports said Monday.
The deal was signed by "vaccine czar" Carlito Galvez, a former Philippine military general in charge of the government's effort to contain the coronavirus pandemic, according to a statement released by the institute's local affiliate Faberco Life Sciences.
The cost of the vaccine is expected to be finalized soon, the affiliate said. The India-based parent is the world's largest vaccine maker by volume according to The Wall Street Journal.
"This is a significant milestone in relations between the Philippines and India. It shows that we don't have to look far beyond Philippine shores to find friends who are willing to help each other out," Kishore Hemlani, founder of Faberco Life Sciences, said in remarks quoted by the Philippine Information Agency.
The institute and Novavax, a U.S.-based biotechnology company, are developing and distributing the Covovax vaccine.
Covovax is in final-phase clinical tests and is expected to be authorized for emergency use by international health regulators.
Covovax will vaccinate 15 million "vulnerable and poor people in the Philippines," Dr. Luningning Villa, Faberco Life Sciences medical chief, said. It is a two-dose treatment.
Galvez said the Philippines wanted to immunize 50 million to 70 million this year. Health officials hope to finalize negotiations for 148 million doses with pharmaceutical companies this month.
In a Twitter post, Philippine Health Secretary Francisco Duque said "we are in the final phase of closing agreements with various manufacturers to immunize at least 60% to 70% of the population," Reuters reported.
