MANILA - The Philippine Red Cross is eyeing to procure COVID-19 vaccines, its chairman Sen. Richard Gordon said Wednesday.

The non-government organization will offer its assistance to government in its national vaccination program, Gordon earlier said.

The Red Cross is already helping government in inoculating children against measles, he said.

• PH Red Cross says 'ready to help' gov't COVID-19 vaccination program

"Nagorder ako, kung pwede, sa malalaking kompanya tulad nitong AstraZeneca 2 million (doses), Moderna 200,000 (doses). May kakausapin kami dito sa ibang tao," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

(I've ordered, if it's allowed, from big firms like AstraZeneca, 2 million and 200,000 from Moderna. We will also talk to other companies.)

The Philippines is forecast to begin its COVID-19 immunization program this month as it expects the arrival of around 1 million doses of vaccine.

Government aims to vaccinate up 70 million people against the new coronavirus this year to achieve herd immunity.

• Philippines to get about 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in February: official
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