The Philippines' COVID-19 vaccine roadmap calls for the inoculation of 50 million to 70 million this year as long as global supply permits, the country's immunization czar said Wednesday.
The target supply of 148 million doses is enough for 74 million Filipinos, or one in every 10 of the entire population, said Sec. Carlito Galvez. Two shots are required per person.
It's a best case scenario given 80% of global supply has been reserved for the richest nations as of Dec. 4 last year, Galvez said. Manila hopes to seal supply deals with up to seven vaccine-makers this month, he said.
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"Each vaccine is developed differently from one another. As a result, each vaccine is expected to elicit different degrees of efficacy and safety. For example, one brand may work better for senior citizens, while the other brand may work better for children," said Jaime Montoya, head of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development
The government will adapt a "Whole of Government and Whole of Nation" approach in lodging the vaccination program to secure as many "safe, free, and effective" vaccines as possible, Galvez said.
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