Philippines to benefit as US directs millions of COVID-19 shots to Asia, Latin America, Africa

The United States on Monday announced that the Philippines will be among priority recipient countries to receive a portion of the latest 55 million tranche of its donated COVID-19 vaccine doses. 

The US Embassy in Manila said the Philippines will receive vaccines both through the COVAX-allocated portion of this tranche as well as through direct donation. 

"This is in addition to the Philippines’ allocation under the previous June 3 announcement of the first 25 million US vaccine doses to be shared globally, as pledged earlier by President [Joe] Biden to help end the pandemic," it said.

A Reuters report said the Philippines will receive a total of 16 million shots from the US through the COVAX facility. The US will also provide vaccines to the Philippines via direct sharing.

The report also said roughly 75% of the 55 million doses are allocated to Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa through the COVAX international vaccine-sharing program.

The plan fulfills President Joe Biden's commitment to share 80 million US-made vaccines with countries around the world. The President sketched out his priorities for the first 25 million doses from that pledge earlier this month.

The United States has come under pressure to share more of its vaccine supply with countries that are still struggling with the deadly virus and its variants.

With more and more Americans getting the shots, the White House increasingly has turned its attention to getting vaccine out internationally. 

Of the 55 million remaining doses, some 41 million will be shared through COVAX, the White House said, with approximately 14 million going to Latin America and the Caribbean, some 16 million to Asia, and roughly 10 million to Africa.

The other 25%, or roughly 14 million doses, will be shared with "regional priorities," including Colombia, Argentina, Iraq, Ukraine, the West Bank and Gaza.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the United States had faced logistical issues getting vaccine to other nations.

"We have plenty of doses to share with the world, but this is a Herculean logistical challenge," she told reporters, noting safety and regulatory information had to be shared, proper storage temperatures for the vaccines had to be ensured, and language barriers at times had to be overcome.

"We have announced today where these doses are going. We will continue to announce as they land on the ground and as they are being shipped, and we're looking forward to doing that as quickly as possible," she said.

The 55 million doses will be taken from the US supply of Pfizer Inc, Moderna Inc, and Johnson & Johnson shots, though if AstraZeneca's vaccine gets a green light from the Food and Drug Administration, it would likely be added to the mix as well.

The White House said it wanted the doses to be prioritized for health care workers and those who are most at risk.

International partners are eager to get US help. Biden has announced the United States will buy 500 million doses of Pfizer's vaccine and donate them to the world's poorest countries.

The White House's breakdown of its allocation of the 55 million vaccine doses is below.

Through COVAX:

* Asia (approximately 16 million shots): India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives, Bhutan, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, Cambodia, and the Pacific Islands.

* Latin America and the Caribbean (approximately 14 million shots): Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, and other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, Dominican Republic, Panama, and Costa Rica

* Africa (approximately 10 million shots): Recipient countries will be selected in coordination with the African Union.

Through direct sharing:

• Philippines
• Colombia
• Argentina
• Haiti
• other CARICOM countries
• Dominican Republic
• Costa Rica
• Panama
• Afghanistan
• Bangladesh
• Pakistan
• Vietnam
• Indonesia
• South Africa
• Nigeria
• Kenya
• Ghana
• Cabo Verde
• Egypt
• Jordan
• Iraq
• Yemen
• Tunisia
• Oman
• West Bank and Gaza
• Ukraine
• Kosovo
• Georgia
• Moldova
• Bosnia

—GMA News with Reuters