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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Australia shores up support for efficient Philippine COVID-19 vaccine roll-out

Australia shores up support for efficient Philippine COVID-19 vaccine roll-out

Published Feb 10, 2021 06:42 pm

Australia is shoring up its support to the Philippines and its partners in the Indo-Pacific region to ensure an equitable and efficient distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven J. Robinson AO said on Wednesday.

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven J. Robinson

In a tweet, Robinson said he met recently with the three secretaries responsible for the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines in the Philippines namely, National Task Force chief Carlito Galvez, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, and National Action Plan deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon to get an update on the vaccine and to see how Australia can further support the distribution through the COVAX facility.

COVAX is a coalition that includes the Vaccine Alliance known as Gavi and the World Health Organization (WHO) and is funded by donations from governments, multilateral institutions and foundations. It aims to procure COVID-19 vaccines in bulk and send them to poorer nations that are incapable of competing with wealthy countries in securing contracts with major drug companies.

During their meeting, the Australian ambassador assured the secretaries that in the “spirit of mateship and Bayanihan”, the Embassy will do all it can to assist.

In October last year, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne announced that Australia has committed $500 million to support access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines and to promote health security in the Indo-Pacific, including in the Philippines.

According to the Embassy in Manila, included in the commitment is a $21-million contribution to the new ASEAN Center for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases, which will help combat COVID-19 and prepare the region for future pandemics.

Also part of the commitment is the support to the Philippines for assistance with vaccines over the next two years, including logistics, public health support and information.

“Australia was able to redirect its 2020 development assistance programs to reinforce the Philippine response to the pandemic,” a statement from the Embassy said. 

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