MANILA, Philippines — National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. thanked yesterday the British government for donating 288,000 doses of AstraZeneca to the Philippines.
Galvez said the arrival of the AstraZeneca vaccines is timely as the country gears up for the three-day National Vaccination Day starting tomorrow.
“We have a good reason (to believe) that many people will benefit from these life-saving vaccines,” he said.
A total of 139,860,080 doses of different COVID-19 vaccine brands were delivered, as of Nov. 26, in the Philippines.
“The UK is absolutely delighted that we were able to provide 5.2 million doses of Astrazeneca this week through COVAX. Today, this is a demonstration that we are living up to this commitment. Our contribution to the Philippines is almost 5.6 million doses,” said British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils.
She added that her government is committed to supplying the Philippines with up to 100 million doses by 2022.
Health Undersecretary Ma. Carolina Vidal-Taiño, UNICEF Immunization specialist Carla Orozco and Lotis Ramin, country president of AstraZeneca Philippines, were among those that welcomed the supply last Friday.