Pfizer shipment brings total COVID-19 vaccine doses delivered past 100 million

Total COVID-19 vaccine doses delivered in the Philippines since February this year reached past 100 million with the shipment of Pfizer shots on Thursday night.

A total of 976, 950 doses of government-procured Pfizer vaccine arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 past 8:30 p.m.

As of Oct. 28, the country has received a total of 100,528,840 COVID-19 vaccine doses, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said.

“Today we celebrate another milestone in our vaccination program. Initially, there were those who doubted that this could be achieved given the many challenges we have to face in our town,” Galvez said.

He said the government aims to speed up the inoculation to 1.5 million jabs a day.

He also said the country is expected to receive nearly 25 million vaccines in November and December.

Galvez expressed gratitude to the world's vaccine makers, COVAX facility and international health agencies for the donated doses and for aiding the Philippines procure vaccines to inoculate its population.

“Let us continue to work hard so that we can fully inoculate at least 50 million Filipinos by year end and have a better Christmas and more prosperous New Year for 2022,” he added.

Earlier in the day, a total of 896,600 more doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine donated by the Japanese government arrived in the country.

The vaccine provisions from Japan form part of its bilateral cooperation with the Philippines, in addition to its active contribution to the COVAX facility.

The Philippines started it vaccination program against COVID-19 on March 1.

The Philippines on Thursday recorded 3,694 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the country's total active infections to 49,835.—LDF, GMA News