Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion applauds the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for granting the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin.

“Covaxin is a very promising vaccine with an efficacy rate of 81%. It has also promised an early arrival this coming May and June which many companies are really wanting for them to inoculate immediately its employees. As of now, we are expecting a total of 8 million doses of Covaxin for the Philippines.” Concepcion said.

In a tweet, India’s Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran said “Delighted that #Covaxin has been granted EUA in the #Philippines. Congratulations @BharatBiotech! Thank you @FDAPhilippines.”

Covaxin is an inactivated vaccine being developed by Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research. It is India’s first indigenous vaccine and is vouched by many health professionals and senior politicians from India, who took the vaccine along with their recommendations including His Excellency himself Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Go Negosyo’s “A Dose of Hope ” vaccine program is working closely with many vaccine manufacturers and is supporting AstraZeneca, Moderna, Novavax, and now Covaxin.

“We are facing a serious situation as the infection levels have dramatically accelerated due to the more transmissible variants. Thus, we need to accelerate the arrivals of our vaccine purchases. The early arrival of Covaxin will help our immunization program as it would accelerate further our rollout. This will complement the arrival of the rest of the initial batches, from the first and second batch of the AstraZeneca vaccines, that the private sector and LGUs have procured. For AstraZeneca, the first batch is expected to arrive in June while the second batch is expected to arrive in July onwards. We hope we will be able to vaccinate much more of the economic frontliners,” Concepcion stated.

IP Biotech, the exclusive importer and distributor of Covaxin to the Philippines, and Ambica International Corporation, the appointed consolidator, held a series of meetings with Go Negosyo’s partners here in the Philippines. Also, just last month, Concepcion and Go Negosyo held a private sector briefing for Covaxin which was attended by over 1,000 attendees.

A Padma Shri Awardee in 2017, Concepcion assured the country’s support for India and its vaccine and that this partnership will bear fruits—with the Covaxin augmenting the need of the Philippines as it seeks to hasten its vaccination program.

“As we have another vaccine in our hands, we encourage more Filipinos to suit up and take our civic duty of being vaccinated. The vaccine is our only way throughout this pandemic and it is only through our united action that we could achieve herd immunity. Attaining herd immunity, we can open further the economy and make lives and livelihoods flourish in the process,” Concepcion advocated.

With the recent EUA approval, Go Negosyo will hold a Townhall meeting via Zoom this April 27 to cater to those interested in ordering Covaxin. For companies who would like to join the Townhall meeting, you may contact Coleen Pabua 09154996570, Leisa Navarro 09663993019, or email opae.gov@gmail.com.