The United States government has successfully delivered a total of 3,240,850 doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccines to its longest treaty ally in Asia, the Philippines, as part of its worldwide effort to fight the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.

Shipped on July 16 and 17, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine delivery was provided directly to the Philippines via the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility, a global initiative to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

This is the first time the Philippines has received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, a safe, trusted, and easy-to-store shot widely used in the United States.

U.S. Embassy in Manila Chargé d’Affaires John Law and Acting USAID Mission Director Sean Callahan joined Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, IATF Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez, and National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Karl Chua at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to welcome the arrival of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

“This U.S. donation of vaccines from our domestic supply to the Philippines, our oldest treaty ally in Asia, demonstrates our close and abiding relationship, and how important this partnership is to us. This one-shot, easy-to-store vaccine will protect millions of lives across the country,” Law said.

Prior to the Johnson & Johnson arrival, the Philippines has received more than seven million vaccine doses through COVAX facility. The United States government is the largest contributor to the global initiative having already donated over Php100 billion ($2 billion).

The US has worked closely with the Philippines throughout the pandemic to protect public health and support the local response to the pandemic

To date, total US government COVID-19 assistance to the Philippines amounts to over Php1.38 billion ($27.5 million), according to data provided by the US Embassy in Manila.