DND inoculation drive to start with delivery of Chinese vaccines

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 23, 2021): DND inoculation drive to start with delivery of Chinese vaccines (By Priam Nepomuceno)  

PNA file photo

The Department of National Defense (DND) on Tuesday said it will soon start with its inoculation drive once the donated Sinovac Biotech coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines are delivered.

The vaccines were donated to the DND by China through Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe, according to Defense spokesperson Arsenio Arsenio Andolong in a statement.

"With the emergency use authorization (EUA) granted to Sinovac Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine, the DND is set to begin its inoculation drive for its employees upon the delivery of the 100,000 doses," he said.

Andolong said the vaccines will be administered to all employees and military personnel assigned to the DND and its civilian bureaus, namely: the Office of Civil Defense, Government Arsenal, National Defense College of the Philippines, the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, as well as the civilian employees of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Family members of DND employees are also eligible to receive the vaccines.

"The intent is to vaccinate everyone who is in the same working environment and those living in the same households as our employees. It is crucial that all must be vaccinated to allow us to create a 'bubble' of an immunized workforce," Andolong said,

Meanwhile, he said uniformed personnel under the AFP will be inoculated under a different vaccine rollout plan.

The Food and Drug Administration on Monday granted EUA to Sinovac Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine after a thorough review by the country's medical and regulatory experts.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131609