US-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrive on Monday, Dec. 20. Image courtesy of NTF COVID-19
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines on Monday received the United States government’s donation of over one million Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses, representing the first tranche of the 3.4 doses of donated vaccine from the country’s biggest trading and military ally.
The National Task Force Against COVID-19 said that the 1,776,060 Pfizer shots were coursed through the Covax Facility.
The shipment carrying the vaccine doses arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 around 4 p.m.
A second delivery is also expected on Tuesday to complete the US donation of 3.4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses.
“I announce with great pleasure the arrival of more vaccine to fight COVID-19. This shipment today and one coming tomorrow morning will bring 3.4 million additional doses of Pfizer vaccine for the Philippines,” US Chargé d’Affaires Heather Variava said during the interview after the vaccine arrival.
“This 3.4-million donation will bring the total donation from the United States from the American people to 22 million,” she added.
Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. expressed gratitude to the US government for the donation.
“We would like to thank the American government and people for the generosity and the act of compassion of donating another 1.7 million Pfizer vaccines,” Galvez said.
Since vaccine deliveries began in February, the Philippines has received 187,165,385 various anti-COVID shots.
As of December 19, the country has administered 100,907,667 vaccine doses.
To date, 43.5 million individuals are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
US condoles with ‘Odette’ victims
On the other hand, as the country grapples with the aftermath of Typhoon Odette, the US government condoled with individuals who lost their kin or property to the wrath of the tropical storm.
The USAID provided emergency shelter assistance to 3,000 families affected by Typhoon Odette. These rolls of heavy-duty sheeting were pre-positioned so they can quickly get to people in need. Image from Twitter / US Embassy in Manila
“On behalf of the American people, I would like to express my condolences to the Philippines and everyone in the Philippines who has lost family members or property as a result of Typhoon Odette. It’s very hard to see the pictures of the devastation in the southern Philippines and we in the United States are working with our partners in the US government to respond to the typhoon,” Variava said.
“United States is also working in partnership with the government of the Philippines to respond to Super Typhoon Odette. We had a variety of supplies and capabilities in place in the Philippines that we have mobilized to support the government and its response to the typhoon,” she continued.