Palace hopes China to donate some vaccines to Philippines

January 11, 2021

Malacanang expressed hope on Monday that China will donate to the Philippines vaccines against coronavirus disease.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement amid the scheduled visit in the country by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi from January 15 to 16.

"Let's see because their Chinese Foreign Minister is coming. I do not know what he will say, but many of us are praying that perhaps some of these vaccines can be donated. After all, we do have very close relations with China," he said when asked of the arrangement over China's Sinovac vaccine, which the Philippines managed to secure.

Roque said the government has secured 25 million doses of vaccine from Sinovac, with 50,000 doses expected to be delivered by next month.

He said the Philippines is expected to pay for the vaccine.

Meanwhile, Roque said there was nothing spectacular about Sinovac vaccine on the decision of the Philippine government to procure from the Chinese company.

"We cannot get yet from the Western brands because the wealthy countries have already paid to develop those vaccines. That's the truth. But I think the earliest date that the Western brands will come in is in July. So, there is nothing spectacular about Sinovac other than it's been proven safe and efficient, 91.5 percent in at least three jurisdictions that we know of," he explained. Celerina Monte/DMS