Malacañang announced on Thursday that over half a million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Sinovac would arrive in the Philippines on February 23.
According to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said 600,000 doses will arrive on the said date, including the 100,000 doses the Chinese government donated to the Department of National Defense.
“Ang bakuna po ng Sinovac na galing China, nakaukit na po sa bato ang pagdating. Ito po ang ay sa 23 ng Pebrero, 23 February po darating ang Sinovac,” he said.
However, the Food and Drug Administration has yet to issue emergency use authorization (EUA) to China-made vaccine.
Last month, General Manager Helen Yang said that the price of CoronaVac that would be sold in the Philippines is reasonable.
“Definitely we are not the highest expensive ones because the mission for Sinovac is to provide the vaccine at an affordable price,” Yang said in an interview on CNN- Philippines.
Also read: China’s Sinovac still PH’s number one choice for vaccine – Palace
600,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines to arrive Feb. 23
“For [the] Philippines, we do committed to providing a favorable price but unfortunately, I’m not in the position to discuss this confidential information at this moment. But I will be assuring you that this is a very good price that we provided to the Philippines,” she added.
Earlier, Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said Sunday that CoronaVac will only cost around P650 per dose.
“Ang aking i-a-assure po sa inyo, fake news po ‘yung kumakalat na P3,600 daw ang singil ng China. Ang ating presyo, bagamat hindi pa maaaring ianunsyo kung ano po talaga ang presyo ng Sinovac, ay hindi po nagkakalayo o hindi po lalayo sa presyo ng Indonesia na sa bandang P650 kada turok,” he said in an interview on DZBB.
He added that the cost of the CoronaVac depends on which country would purchase it.
However, Yang did not confirm nor denied the price information, citing a confidentiality agreement.
The efficacy rate of Sinovac in human trials in Brazil is 50%, 65% in Indonesia, and 91% in Turkey.