President Rodrigo Duterte holds a vial of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine after he welcomed the arrival of 3 million doses of the jab donated by the United States at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Tuesday, August 3, 2021. Screenshot from RTVM
MANILA, Philippines — Some 3 million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine donated by the United States arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday.
The arrival of the latest vaccine shipment was welcomed by President Rodrigo Duterte at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
In a taped speech Monday night, Duterte thanked US President Joe Biden for not forgetting the Philippines in its COVID-19 vaccine donation to other countries.
The President also said he considered the vaccine donation of the US government in his decision to retain the Visiting Forces Agreement.
Prior to the arrival of the 3 million doses of Moderna on Tuesday, the US also donated via the COVAX facility 3.2 million doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine to the Philippines. These vials were delivered in two tranches.
Since February, the Philippines has received over 37.2 million doses of various COVID-19 vaccines – including those donated to the country and procured by the government.
More than 21.2 million vaccine doses have been administered as of August 2 while over 9.3 million individuals have already been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the government.