Senator Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao has asked the United States to facilitate the immediate release of the COVID-19 vaccines purchased by the Philippines from American drug firm Moderna.
Pacquiao wrote to US President Joseph Biden thru US Embassy to the Philippines Chargé d'Affaires John Law, "to urgently request your good office to facilitate the immediate release of the 20 million doses Moderna COVID-19 vaccines secured by the Philippine government."
In his letter dated April 10, 2021 and released to media on Saturday, May 1, the administration ally lamented that the Philippines "is now in dire health crisis because of the recent spike in COVID-19 infections."
"On behalf of all Filipinos and the Filipino-American community, I humbly ask for the generous help of your government to intervene for the early delivery of the Moderna vaccines. Even an initial release and delivery of at least 10 million doses this April would go a long way in saving many Filipino lives," Pacquiao appealed.
Law replied to Pacquiao last April 22, telling the senator that the US Embassy in Manila "has been honored to assist and support our friend and allies in obtaining vaccines, treating patients and preventing the spread of the disease."
"We will continue to work closely with our partners abroad to confront this global crisis," he added.
Law did not commit in his letter that the US will expedite the delivery of Moderna's vaccine but said he has conveyed Pacquiao's request to Biden's office.
Moderna recently filed its application for an emergency use authoritization (EUA) of its vaccines from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. had said that the Philippines expects the arrival of the initial doses of Moderna's vaccine by June.