Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Moderna and AstraZeneca are no longer accepting vaccine orders for the first wave procurement.
In a nationally televised briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night, Galvez said Moderna and AstraZeneca will only accept orders for the second wave procurement.
“Ibig sabihin, ibang produkto na ‘yon. Either it’s a booster or a new product na second generation vaccine, hindi ‘yong first generation vaccine,” Galvez said.
He said the government is still awaiting the two vaccine brands’ presentation before placing orders.
The National Task Force Against COVID-19 earlier said tripartite agreements for securing COVID-19 vaccines have been put on hold as international drug manufacturers are still overwhelmed with new orders.
NTF spokesman Restituto Padilla said vaccine makers are not ready to accept new agreements even as the Vaccination Program Act of 2021 allows local government units to purchase their vaccines through multi-party agreements.
The government has so far been dealing with a less than adequate supply of COVID-19 jabs to inoculate 70% percent of the country’s population.
The country started its COVID-19 vaccination rollout on March 1.
At least 17.8 million individuals have so far been inoculated.—LDF, GMA News
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