SOME 15,000 doses of Sputnik V (Gamaleya) Covid-19 vaccines were brought in Saturday afternoon by a Qatar Airways flight QR 932, from Moscow via the capital, Doha.
The 15,000 doses are considered a trial order and need to be stored at -20C.
The Department of Health (DOH) had previously arranged with some local bonded warehouses that are equipped with cold-chain facilities for storage and distribution.
DOH Secretary Francisco Duque lll, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, testing czar Vicencio Dizon and Undersecretary Robert Borje welcomed the first shipment of the Russian vaccine at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The shipment is part of the 485,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccines ordered by the Duterte administration with the help of special envoy and Ambassador to Moscow, Carlos D. Sorreta.
The first Sputnik V shipment was expected to arrive last Wednesday but was delayed by logistics issues.
The Bureau of Customs-Naia approved the release of the Sputnik V vaccines after DOH and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) representatives presented documents and related papers for speedy approval.
The FDA has given Sputnik V vaccine an emergency use authorization in the country.
Ambassador Sorreta said on Facebook, “Great working with the DOH, DFA, Special Envoy for Moscow and the other members of the IATF to make this happen.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Finance said around half of the total funding extended by multilateral institutions for the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines has already been obligated.
Finance Undersecretary Mark Dennis Joven said that between $600 million and $700 million have been spent out of the total of $1.2 billion in loans granted by the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
As such, contracts have already been signed for the procurement of vaccines covering these amounts, he added during the Laging Handa briefing on Friday.
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