Philippines expects 5.6 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to arrive by end-March; virus total now above 525,000

Passengers wearing face masks and face shields for protection against the coronavirus disease walking at a train station in Manila. The govt has announced that the total Cavid-19 cases in Philippines is now above 525,000, - Reuters

MANILA, Jan 31 (Reuters): At least 5.6 million Covid-19 doses of two international Covid-19 vaccines are expected to arrive in the Philippines in the first quarter of the year, the chief of the country's coronavirus task force said on Sunday.

The initial volume is part of the 9.4 million doses of the two vaccines - one developed by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE, the other by AstraZeneca PLC - that are expected to be shipped in the first half, said Carlito Galvez, who also handles the government's vaccine procurement.