The Philippines is assured of getting 30 million doses of vaccines for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) from Novavax and another 8 million from Covaxin, which will all be sourced from the Serum Institute of India.

“We hope these requirements can be expedited by the regulatory authorities in the Philippines so it can be brought there. Once all the approvals are in place, they can send it there within one month,” Philippine Ambassador to India Ramon Bagatsing said.

Eight million of Covaxin vaccines can be sent to the Philippines within one month once the approvals are in place, according to Bagatsing.

The Novavax vaccines is scheduled to be delivered on the third or fourth quarter of this year. National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. successfully negotiated for the Novavax vaccines.

Meanwhile, Bagatsing confirmed that there is no announcement on the ban of importing Novavax vaccines from India, and guaranteed that upon discussion with importers and once given approval from the Philippines, the vaccines will be delivered to the country.

Once the vaccines from India arrives, it will be used to vaccinate the next groups lined up for vaccination.

“It is the same experiences being done here in India, and now vaccination is ongoing for the phase 3, or 18 years old and up,” he said.