PH to receive US vax donation
The Philippines is among the many countries in the world that would receive part of the 80 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine donation from the United States, according to the US Embassy in Manila.
“The President’s been very clear on the US commitment to help countries throughout the world on this. We’re going to be seeing vaccines in significant numbers arriving in the Philippines and countries all around the world,” US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law said yesterday in a virtual briefing.
Law did not give the specific date of the vaccine arrival but said a portion of the donation is expected to be delivered “soon.”
“The White House is currently looking at not only the logistical aspects but also, of course, each country may have different regulatory aspects, we’re talking about different as well, so I think the White House needs a little bit of time to sort those out, but I would expect the announcement very soon,” he said.
Last June 3, the US announced that the initial 19 million doses will be shared through COVAX Facility while approximately six million doses will be sent directly to countries in immediate need or those experiencing surges.
To be coursed through COVAX Facility, approximately seven million doses will be donated to Asia, including the Philippines, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan and the Pacific Islands.
The US direct donation will be for regional priorities and partner recipients, including Mexico, Canada, the Republic of Korea, West Bank and Gaza, Ukraine, Kosovo, Haiti, Georgia, Egypt, Jordan, India, Iraq and Yemen, as well as for United Nations frontline workers.
