Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will be commercially available in the Philippines

Philippine Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced during a press briefing earlier today, August 24, that since Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (BNT162b2) has been given full approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the vaccine brand will soon be commercially available in pharmacies.

Roque stressed that the above mentioned vaccine will be available in pharmacies once it has been approved by the Philippine FDA.

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“… Now, bagamat kinakailangan bigyan pa rin ng commercial use approval ng Philippine FDA ang Pfizer [vaccine], ito po ay mapapabilis dahil meron tayong polisiya ng Philippine FDA ay mas mabilis na aaprubahan for commercial use ang mga bakuna’t gamot na meron ng approval sa mga stringent na FDAs gaya ng Estados Unidos,” says Roque.

“Magiging commercially available na po ang Pfizer [vaccine]… Kaya kaunting panahon na lang po ah at mabibili na sa ating mga botika ang Pfizer kung ito po ang inyong preferred brand,” he continues.

The Presidential Spokesperson also reminded the public that there will be no booster shots yet as there are still many who have not yet received their COVID-19 vaccines.

“Tandaan din po natin na wala pong booster muna ha. Marami pa po tayong mga kababayan ang kailangang mabakunahan. Sa mga nabakunahan na, huwag naman natin i-deprive yung mga hindi pa natuturukan ng COVID-19 vaccine…,” he explains.

Roque as well assured the public that the national government has allocated a budget of P45 Billion for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for next year.

“Bakunahan muna natin ang lahat bago tayo mag-isip ng booster. At kasama naman po yan sa budget sa susunod na taon. 45 Billion po ang nilaan natin para sa booster ng lahat,” he added.

Meanwhile, as of August 23, a total 30,693,019 doses have been administered in the country. 13,197,689 are fully inoculated with coronavirus vaccines while 17,495,330 are on their first dose.

On another note, 362,700 doses of Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine procured by the national government is expected to arrive tomorrow, August 25. And also 3 Million doses of SinoVac this 4th week of August.