The national government has allocated P75 billion for the purchase of coronavirus vaccines for 57 million people in the country, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced Tuesday.
An additional 13 million Filipinos will be covered by the vaccination program by the local government units and private sector, bringing the total beneficiaries to 70 million.
The rollout of the vaccination program, including the funding sources identified by the Department of Finance, was discussed by the President and the Cabinet during a meeting in Malacañang Monday.
“A total of 70 million Filipinos should be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccines,” Nograles said during a televised press briefing.
“The planned rollout of vaccines is good news that impacts not only the health of our people but also the economic well-being of our country,” he added.
Nograles said the President and the Cabinet wanted to ensure the country has “enough funds” to cover the needs for the vaccines to protect Filipinos from the coronavirus.
“We are confident to be able cover that many Filipinos and that’s enough for herd immunity,” he said.
The government has so far secured supplies of 30 million doses of Covovax vaccines and 25 million Sinovac vaccine doses.
Additional vaccines from AstraZeneca have also been obtained by the national government, local government units and private companies.
The initial shipment of the Chinese-made vaccines is expected to start arriving next month.
Upon the orders of the President, the frontline health workers, senior citizens, poor citizens, and uniformed personnel are included in the list of priority beneficiaries of the government’s free vaccination program.
National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Region XI (Davao Region), and Region IV-A (CALABARZON) are among the priority areas for the immunization drive.
