Though the vaccine for coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, is yet to be available, the source manufacturer could not provide the specific quantity the city is aiming to purchase.

According to Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, the British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca can only give 50,000 vaccines to the city due to limited supply.

He said the city is needing around 350,000 but the city is purchasing 200,000 doses of the anti-coronavirus shots.

To recall, the city is spending P200 million for the vaccine purchase.

Meanwhile, there will be a digital signing of Tripartite Agreement for COVID-19 vaccine with Treñas, National Inter-Agency Task Force and AstraZeneca, together with other cities this Saturday afternoon at the City Mayor’s Office.

This after the Department of Health (DOH) has given the go-signal for local government units to purchase AstraZeneca vaccines.

“We are signing the tripartite agreement tomorrow between and among AstraZeneca and the national government on the procurement of vaccines between 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.,” Treñas said on Friday.

Initially, on January 4, the city government inked a confidentiality disclosure agreement (CDA) with AstraZeneca relative to the acquisition of its AZD1222 Vaccine against COVID-19.

In its special session on January 6, the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) adopted two resolutions relative to the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.

One of these measures ratified the CDA signed by Treñas on January 4.

A CDA is a preliminary document that allows clinical data sharing, according to SP floor leader, Councilor Romel Duron.

Meanwhile, the second resolution passed by the city’s legislative body authorized Treñas to represent the city government in negotiating and concluding agreements; to sign, execute and deliver such agreements and other pertinent papers, instruments, and documents, and to do all acts and things necessary, proper, and convenient under the premises for and in behalf of Iloilo City government with AstraZeneca./WDJ