The Philippines will also procure up to 20 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna.

According to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Romualdez, the Philippine government is currently in final talks with the pharmaceutical company on this.

On Tuesday, Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Director General Eric Domingo revealed during a “Laging Handa” briefing that Moderna is among the other vaccine developers who has already asked about the emergency use authorization (EUA) along with Bharat Institute and Serum Institute of India.

Bharat Institute has already applied for EUA on Thursday morning.

As of now, only Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has secured EUA from the FDA.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Romualdez has received his first dose of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine as part of Washington, D.C.’s phase-based vaccination program.

He emphasized the importance of close collaboration within the international community and between governments and private entities in ensuring the procurement of vaccines.

The Philippine is eyeing the rollout of the national inoculation program by February. (ES)