United States Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will ask President Joe Biden to send five million donated AstraZeneca vaccines to the Philippines.
“The Philippines should get a robust amount, and I’m here to give you some good news: I will support and send a letter to the President, and call him that five million of those vaccines should go to the Philippines. You deserve it and you need it," Schumer said in a statement.
Filipino-American leaders of registered nurses, doctors, and community advocates talked to Schumer during a memorial weekend virtual meeting and requested an allocation of five million COVID vaccine doses for the Philippines.
Biden recently announced a distribution of 80 million vaccines throughout the world.
Among those community representatives in the meeting were Kym Villamer and Christine Santisteban of Frontliners Above and Beyond, Emerson Ea of Kalusugan Coalition, Potrirankamanis Queano Nur of Kinding Sindaw Heritage Foundation, Laura Garcia of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, Lolita Compas and Jennifer Aying of the Philippine Nurses Association of America, Warly Remegio of Philippine Nurses Association of New York, Angie Cruz of US Filipinos for Good Governance, and Eric Lachica of US Medicare in the Philippines.
“Because I love the Philippines, I love nurses, and because you were doing such a great job. New York particularly benefits from the Filipino people," Schumer told the group.
"I don’t know what it is in your genes but you are the nicest people, a very giving and caring people and this showed during COVID. The more Filipinos in New York, the better off we are," he added.
Schumer also said he worked very hard for global access to vaccines emphasizing that “it is humanitarian and it’s the right thing to do."
"When a disease is overseas, it’s gonna come to America, and we have a whole lot of citizens and residents here who have relatives in the Philippines," he added.
The senator meanwhile cited efforts in obtaining funding during the December COVID Bill to ensure vaccines are available to the American people and to the global population.
“We have the obligation as the leading country in the world, and I have the obligation as the majority leader of the senate to make sure the vaccines are distributed globally," Schumer added.
“This is great news; an answer to our prayers. We will cascade this to our groups. Thank you, Senator,” Villamer said in response to the Schumer's support.
“We are so thankful for your positive response," added Emerson Ea from Kalusugan Coalition in NY.
Veteran nurse leader and advocate Lolita Compas, for her part, said: "You have touched so many lives. You touched the nurses’ lives which benefited the lives of many Americans across the country.
"We deeply appreciate your leadership to improve the immigration process. We were there with you testifying in Congress with you leading. This has impacted the lives of the Filipino people from then until now. Your action to support the release the vaccines is deeply appreciated," she added.
Schumer also gave an update on the passage of the Anti-Hate Crimes legislation which he helped spearhead together with Senators Mazie Hirono and Tammy Duckworth.
“I am with you all the way. I love your community, and I wanna do everything I can to help."