Prices of eyed COVID-19 vaccines for distribution in the Philippines. Congress on Wednesday, December 9, approved a budget of P72.5 billion for the purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

The COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Sinovac, a Chinese pharmaceutical company, is among the first expected to arrive in the Philippines, according to Rappler.

Carlito Galvez Jr said on Monday, December 14, that pandemic officials have asked Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac to deliver supplies of its COVID-19 vaccine to the country by March 2021.

“They (Sinovac) said they are very confident that they will have the sources in April but we are negotiating that March will be our target,” said Galvez.

Duterte administration also talks with Sinopharm and CanSino Bilogics for its COVID-19 vaccine. 

Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sta. Romana says, “The basis of confidence is based on the Chinese experience and the experience in other countries. But this has to be validated by our own health authorities.”