The country is eyeing at least 30 million doses of the vaccine for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) from another US firm, Novavax, a government official said.

In a recent television interview, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the Novavax vaccine for the Covid019 may be expected to be available in July 2021.

“Thirty million dosages of the Indian-made Novavax vaccines are assured, possibly with no cash advance. It will be available by July 2021,” he said.

Novavax is based in the United States and licenses the Serum Institute of India (SII) to produce its vaccines.

“The term sheet might be signed before the year ends. The good thing though, remember this is not a rumor, is that this is based *on a press release made by Serum Institute of India, the giant manufacturer,” Locsin said.

The local distributor of Novavax, Faberco Life Sciences Inc. is also optimistic on the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine of the US-based company.

“Encouraging po ang results ng studies. Maganda po ang immune response doon sa phase 1, phase 2 tapos na rin yan and we’re waiting for the publication. Phase 3 is ongoing and so far encouraging ang results (The results of the studies are encouraging. The immune response was good in phase 1, and phase  2 was already finished and we are waiting for the publication of the results. Phase 3 is ongoing and so far the results are encouraging),” said Dr. Luningning Villa, medical director of Faberco Life Sciences Inc. in a radio interview. CURRENTPH