A total of 3,000,060 doses of the Moderna vaccine--encased in boxes emblazoned with the American flag--were flown into the Philippines on Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 3.
The United States (US)-made jabs touched down at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City at past 4 p.m., before they were brought to the Villamor Airbase, also in Pasay City, at around 5:30 p.m.
The shipment represents the largest ever donation from the single country as far as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines are concerned. The life-saving jabs were coursed through the COVAX facility.
President Duterte, US Embassy Charge’ d’Affaires John C. Law, vaccine czar Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. and Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III welcomed the Moderna vaccines at Villamor airbase.
Prior to this, the boxes of anti-COVID shots underwent inspection by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in NAIA.