COVID Vaccine: Late March to Early April 2021 is 'Best Case,' Says Duque

The Philippines can start distributing a COVID-19 vaccine, in a "best case scenario," by the end of the first quarter of 2021 up to the start of the second quarter, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said Monday.

Under that timeline, the vaccine could be rolled out by late March or early April, at around the same dates in 2020 that the country was placed under quarantine. The vaccine is key to the lifting of restrictions, which could happen by 2022, said Socioeconomic Planning Sec. Karl Kendrick Chua.

"I think the best case scenario would be end of first quarter of 2021, or about the start of second quarter of next year," Duque told ANC's Headstart.

MORE ON THE VACCINE:

COVID Vaccines Added to Cart: Tycoons Help Gov't Order 2.6 Million Doses

What If You Don't Want to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine?

Duque said a lot of factors will be considered to set a timeline for distribution, deployment and innoculation.

Authorities are looking at a portfolio of vaccines from different developers as supply from just one company are not be enough to innoculate the entire population, he said.

MORE ON VACCINE DEVELOPMENTS:

Moderna Plans 100 Million COVID Vaccine Doses in Early 2021

Emergency Use of COVID-19 Vaccine, Drugs Allowed, Conditions Set