BOC clears first batch of ‘Moderna’ vaccine,’ another 1M dose of ‘Sinovac’

On Jun 28, 2021

A Philippine customs officer is seen supervising the unloading of the first batch of ‘Moderna’ anti-COVID-19 vaccine, on its arrival at the NAIA Terminal 3 on June 27, 2021 (photo credit: BOC-PIAD).

The Bureau of Customs-NAIA (BOC-NAIA) facilitated the expeditious release of the first batch of US-made ‘Moderna’ COVID-19 vaccines, consisting of 249,600 doses, which arrived via Singapore Airlines on June 27, 2021.

The initial batch, consigned to the Department of Health (DOH), arrived via Flight No. SQ 918 at Terminal 3 at around 11:00 pm and was pre-cleared on June 25, 2021 by the BOC-NAIA COVID-19 One-Stop-Shop.

The arrival of the vaccines was witnessed by representatives from the United States Embassy, Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and, DOH undersecretary Carolina Vidal-Taiño, a statement from the BOC added.

The port, in anticipation of the arrival of the vaccine, initially held coordination meetings with Zuellig Pharma and the DOH days previously, on June 15 and 23, 2021.

Aside from the Moderna Vaccines, an additional 1 million doses of Sinovac vaccines also arrived around 7:20 AM on June 28, 2021 at NAIA Terminal 2 via flight 5J 671 from Beijing, China, and were immediately transported under customs guard to the Pharmaserv Cold Storage Facility in Marikina City.