Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 10) — The private sector is in talks with officials of AstraZeneca to secure another batch of COVID-19 vaccines for 2022, said presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion.
In a statement, Concepcion said GoNegosyo, the non-profit organization he founded, organized the meeting between more than 350 firms and the vaccine maker “to streamline initial plans to procure COVID-19 vaccines for 2022” as the emergence of coronavirus variants make booster shots necessary.
During the Dec. 9 meeting, Concepcion revealed that the Inter-Agency Task Force has given its go signal to the private sector to procure additional doses of AstraZeneca in 2022.
The parties involved first signed a tripartite agreement under the “A Dose of Hope” initiative for the delivery of vaccines this year, which will be complete on Dec. 27.
Concepcion said the new deal is now being arranged with the manufacturer, noting “there will be a slight increase in the cost for the doses, but the price will already include shipping.” AstraZeneca will no longer require payment up front or a security deposit.
AstraZeneca officials also said they are working on an updated version of their vaccine to address new variants of the coronavirus, according to Concepcion.
The vaccine AZD2816 still uses the same adenoviral vector platform, but now contains 10 changes across the spike protein, many of which are also seen in other variants of concern. This can also be used as a primary dose. The new version of the vaccine is projected to be available in the second half of 2022.
AstraZeneca Philippines country president Lotis Ramin said the private sector can choose to switch to the new vaccine variant, but orders have to be made as early as possible in order to assure supply. Deliveries will be on a quarterly basis.
Other countries are also starting to secure vaccines for next year, she added.
Concepcion said the “foresight and pro-active stance” of the country has led to the improving COVID-19 situation. This will also be useful in the procurement of more COVID-19 vaccines for 2022, he said.
“We need to vax to the max or else our family bubbles and our business bubbles will weaken,” he said, adding that the government also needs to secure boosters for the second half of 2022.
