US willing to share COVID-19 vaccine with allies once available, Esper tells Lorenzana

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Friday told Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana the US is willing to share with its allies and partners COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics once available.

Esper made the comment when he and Lorenzana had a conference call, the Department of National Defense (DND) said in a press release issued Sunday.

During the call, Lorenzana thanked Esper for the medical assistance and donations of medical supplies the US government gave the Philippines to help the country respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was then that Esper said the development of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics in the US is "making very good progress" and added they are willing to share these with allies and partners in the future.

Esper also thanked the DND for its support to the Philippine government's decision to suspend the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement, the treaty governing the presence of US soldiers conducting military exercises in the country.

As of Saturday, the Philippines has recorded a total of 25,392 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of this number, 5,706 recovered while 1,074 died. —KG, GMA News