(FILE) Boxes of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine are seen at the McKesson Corporation, amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, in Shepherdsville, U.S., March 1, 2021. (Pool photo via REUTERS)
MANILA, Philippines — Another 1.6 million doses of Janssen’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine donated by the United States government arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Saturday afternoon.
Flight EK 332 carrying the Janssen vaccines landed at the airport past 4 p.m., according to state-run PTV-4.
This was the second batch of Janssen vaccines donated by the U.S. government through COVAX, a vaccine sharing scheme that aims for equitable access to vaccines, especially in poor and middle-income countries.
On Friday, the first batch of Janssen vaccines, also composed of 1.6 million doses, arrived in the country.
The Department of Health earlier said the deliveries are part of a global vaccine sharing strategy by the U.S. government, which aims to provide at least 80 million doses to countries that are most affected by the pandemic.
“These vaccines from the COVAX facility would be given to our senior citizens who are at risk for severe COVID-19 and deaths. These single-dose vaccines would help fully vaccinate more of our lolos and lolas and increase coverage among the A2 priority group,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque said in an earlier statement.
“By fully vaccinating them, we could hopefully reduce hospitalization and decongest our hospitals. Kaya naman po inaanyayahan ko ang ating mga lolo at lola na magpabakuna na laban sa COVID-19 (That’s why I am encouraging the elderly to get vaccinated against COVID-19),” he added.
The latest government figures show that the country has administered over 14 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, including around 10 million provided as first shots. Over four million individuals have been fully vaccinated.
The government aims to inoculate around 70 million individuals to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19.