More than half of the total vaccine supply that the Philippines will get this year will be distributed in the NCR Plus 8 areas to hasten achieving herd immunity.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the goal is to inoculate 58 million Filipinos nationwide before the end of the year.
“In truth, the majority of the cases are in Metro Manila Plus. This is why even as half of the vaccine supply will be distributed across the country, more or less half will also be concentrated in Metro Manila Plus, Cebu and Davao,” Roque said.
According to the Department of Health, the NCR Plus 8 area is composed of Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Bulacan, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, and Rizal.
Based on the DOH’s latest data, 67 percent of the vaccine supply is distributed to the areas.
Meanwhile, at least five companies are planning to build COVID-19 vaccine facilities in the country while three others want to locate here to produce other vaccines, Science Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said.
“One is targeting to start a fill and finish facility by the end of the year,” she said without disclosing the company.
Guevarra said at least two companies that have partnered with Chinese and German pharmaceuticals are already in talks with the Department of Trade and Industry.
“We are going to pursue vaccine manufacturing as an industry. We need to provide a policy environment that will be favorable,” she added.
