The Department of Health (DOH) expressed gratitude to the United States government for its decision to donate some of its surplus COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines and other countries.
"Well nakuha natin yung magandang balita na iyan at tayo naman ay nagagalak at nagpapasalamat na tayo rin ay mabibigyan ng tulong (Well we got that good news and we are grateful that we will also be given help)," said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in a briefing on June 4.
Vergeire, meanwhile, said there is no information yet as to when these vaccine donations will arrive in the Philippines. The DOH is coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) regarding the matter, she added.
“Hanggang sa ngayon wala pa naman pasabi sa atin kung ilan ang ating matatanggap at kung kailan. So magbibigay po tayo ng impormasyon as soon as we get those details (Until now, we have not been told yet how many we will receive and when. So we will provide information as soon as we get those details),” she said.
In a statement on June 3, the United States government said that it will share at least 80 million vaccines across the world through the COVAX facility.
The first seven million doses will be shared in some Asian countries, including the Philippines.
“Approximately seven million for Asia to the following countries and entities: India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, and the Pacific Islands,” it said.