The International Container Terminal Services Incorporated (ICTSI) said it will help the government purchase 2 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca.
In an online press briefing on Tuesday, ICTSI executive vice president Christian Gonazalez said they are now in talks with the AstraZeneca and the United Kingdom (UK) and the government for the said purchase.
“What will happen here is the private sector will shoulder the cost not only of the 50 percent deposit of AstraZeneca vaccine, but likewise the remaining 50 percent [deposit] once the vaccine is there, which is expected now to be some time in the second quarter of 2021,” Gonzalez said.
Half of the vaccine will go to the Department of Health (DOH), while the remaining million vaccine, he said, will go to ICTSI
“Our emphasis for the remaining 50 percent of our share of the AstraZeneca vaccine that will be delivered will be for those essential logistics service providers and of course as I mentioned, the employees of ICTSI and the entire Razon Group,” Gonzalez said,
Among the logistics service providers he was referring to are the workers of the Philippine Ports Authority, Bureau of Customs and other essential frontline port and logistics workers.
ICTSI said it hopes more companies will also help finance the government’s purchase of Covid-19 vaccines. since it could help more Filipinos be immune from the said sickness.
Gonzalez noted AstraZeneca has allocated a total of three to five million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine for the country to purchase.
The government is targeting to secure enough doses of Covid-19 vaccine, which will be enough for 60 million people.
It is planning to hold a nationwide vaccination drive for Covid-19 by next year.