Fil-Am groups seeking US donation of 5 million AstraZeneca vaccines for PH
Opposition Senator Leila de Lima on Monday lauded the Filipino-American groups of registered nurses, doctors and community advocates for seeking the help of the United States government to send five million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to the Philippines the soonest time possible.
De Lima specifically thanked Frontliners Above and Beyond, Kalusugan Coalition, Kinding Sindaw Heritage Foundation, National Federation of Filipino American Associations, Philippine Nurses Association of America, Philippine Nurses Association of New York, US Filipinos for Good Governance, and US Medicare PH.
The Fil-Am groups’ request to US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for a five million doses specific allocation bore good result as the latter vowed to write to US President Joe Biden to send five million AstraZeneca jabs to the Philippines.
“The efforts of these Filipino-American leaders are truly commendable as they show that they do not forget their countrymen even though they are miles away from home. True Filipinos in heart and spirit. Kahanga-hanga! (very commendable),” De Lima said in a statement.
“The five million vaccine doses that could be given to the Philippines can make a big difference because these can protect thousands of lives against the deadly COVID-19 virus,” she added.
It can be recalled that Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel “Babes” Romualdez said that the country would be part of the first batch to receive donated vaccines from the United States’ surplus supply of shots.
The said donation is part of Biden’s earlier pledge to have some 80 million vaccines delivered overseas by the end of June as part of their strategy to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The US stepping up in its donation of vaccines to various countries brings a lot of hope and heightens the confidence of many that we can put and end to this pandemic soon,” De Lima remarked.