Quezon City gives partial payment for AstraZeneca vaccines

QUEZON CITY, Philippines — The Quezon City government has released the downpayment for the purchase of 1.1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca.

City hall has disbursed the 20 percent downpayment for the vaccines.

It did not disclose the amount paid.

Mayor Joy Belmonte earlier confirmed that the cost of AstraZeneca vaccine is similar to the previously reported amount of around $5 per dose.

An earlier report said the required two doses of AstraZeneca vaccine per person would cost P610, inclusive of tax.

Quezon City has allocated an initial funding of P1 billion to purchase vaccines.

The local government has identified at least 24 vaccination sites and over a million people who will be prioritized in the city’s vaccination program.

Quezon City tapped Zuellig Pharmaceutical Co. as its logistics partner, which will be in charge of inventory, storage and management of the vaccines.

Belmonte said they are also reaching out to other pharmaceutical companies for the procurement of additional vaccine doses.

Parañaque pays vaccines

Parañaque has paid P9,606,000 or 20 percent of the P50 million worth of vaccines the city government initially ordered from AstraZeneca, Mayor Edwin Olivarez said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum yesterday.

The local government has secured 200,000 doses of vaccine expected to arrive by July.

Olivarez said only 10 percent of the city’s population are willing to get vaccinated.

He encouraged the residents to register for the city’s vaccination program.

Parañaque has set aside P250 million for the purchase of the vaccines. – Ghio Ong