PH to get 1M Covaxin doses

At least 1 million doses of Covaxin, the Covid-19 vaccine made by India’s Bharat Biotech, will arrive in the country starting April, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria “Joey” Concepcion 3rd said on Wednesday.

COVAXIN : India’s indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine

“Adding to our AstraZeneca, Moderna and Novavax doses, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin will boost our national vaccination program,” Concepcion said after meeting with representatives of Ambica International Corp. and IP Biotech, distributors of Covaxin.

“Having talked with Ambica and IP Biotech, the distributors for Covaxin, the private sector is expected to receive 1 million doses starting April, May and June,” he added.

Concepcion, also the founder of Go Negosyo, said a briefing for the private sector on Covaxin would be held today, March 18, as part of efforts to increase vaccine confidence in the country.

“This briefing is a chance for companies that have not yet secured their doses to know more about the Covaxin and procure their doses as deemed necessary,” he said.

“The Covaxin is promising as it shows an 81-percent efficacy and was even the vaccine used by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he added.

Raches Ella, head of Business Development & Advocacy for Bharat Biotech, will present the technical attributes for Covaxin and will be joined by Noel Miranda, scientific advisor of IP Biotech, to answer questions from the private sector participants.

Covaxin is India’s first indigenous vaccine and was used to inoculate health professionals and senior politicians there.

The price of the vaccine is yet to be determined. Concepcion and government officials are still negotiating so that the country would get the vaccine at the lowest possible price.

The briefing will be attended by Shambhu Kumaran, Indian ambassador to the Philippines; Ramon Bagatsing Jr.; Philippine ambassador to New Delhi; Enrique Gonzalez, chairman of IP Biotech; Deepu Bhatia, vice president of Ambica International Corp.; and Josephine Romero, head of A Dose of Hope Program.

Companies that want to join the private sector briefing on Covaxin may contact Eva Pasagui (09189656333), Coleen Pabua (09154996570) and Christine Laz (09363512116).

Earlier, Concepcion said the Covaxin would augment the purchases made by the private sector from AstraZeneca, Moderna and Novavax.

He said Go Negosyo was looking to offer Covaxin to micro, small and medium enterprises that have yet to secure vaccines.

Covaxin posted an 81-percent efficacy rate based on the interim results of its phase 3 trial. It is awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration.