US to deliver up to 1M donated COVID-19 vaccines in July — envoy

The United States will deliver around 800,000 to 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines next month in line with its commitment to share its surplus vaccines to various countries, Manila’s Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said Tuesday.

Romualdez told a Palace news conference the shots are produced by either Moderna or AstraZeneca.

He also said the Philippines would get an allocation from the US’ donation of 500 million doses of Pfizer vaccine to 92 low- and middle-income countries.

“We’re getting a substantial number of vaccines coming from the United States aside from what we’ve already negotiated,” Romualdez said.

The Philippines will be among priority recipient countries to receive a portion of the 80 million doses pledged by US President Joe Biden early this month. Several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Africa as well as other parts of Asia will also receive free vaccines.

Health care workers and those who are most at risk should be given priority access to the vaccines, the White House said.

Romualdez also announced the Philippines had reserved 50 million booster shots from Moderna for next year. The first batch of the procured doses from Moderna will arrive on June 27.

“We’re in good shape as far as our vaccines are concerned,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News