‘Game-changer’: Philippines finally receives coronavirus vaccine after stalled roll-out

A Chinese military transport aircraft carrying 600,000 doses of vaccine arrived at an airbase in Manila in a late-afternoon event beamed live on TV

The initial deliveries are a small fraction of at least 148 million doses the government has been negotiating to secure to vaccinate about 70 million Filipinos

Reading Time:2 minutes

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte holds a vial of Sinovac’s coronavirus vaccine at Villamor Air Base in Metro Manila, Philippines, Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:35pm, 28 Feb 2021Updated: 6:35pm, 28 Feb 2021

The Philippines received its first batch of Covid-19 vaccine on Sunday, among the last in Southeast Asia to secure the critical doses despite having the second-highest number of coronavirus infections and deaths in the hard-hit region.

A Chinese military transport aircraft carrying 600,000 doses of vaccine donated by China arrived at an airbase in the capital in a late-afternoon event beamed live on state-run TV. President Rodrigo Duterte and top cabinet officials welcomed the delivery of the vaccine from China-based Sinovac Biotech Ltd. in a televised ceremony that underscored their relief after weeks of delays, officials said.

“That plane is carrying hope that we can finally return to our lives and light for our very dark journey,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Vaccinations initially of health workers and top officials led by the health secretary were scheduled to start in six Metropolitan Manila hospitals Monday.

Aside from the donated vaccine from Sinovac Biotech, the government has separately ordered 25 million doses from the China-based company. An initial 525,600 doses of Covid-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca were also scheduled to arrive Monday, Roque said.

The initial deliveries are a small fraction of at least 148 million doses the government has been negotiating to secure from Western and Asian companies to vaccinate about 70 million Filipinos for free in a massive campaign largely funded with foreign and domestic loans. The bulk of the vaccine shipments are expected to arrive later this year.