The United States on Tuesday delivered a total of 3,000,060 doses of Moderna vaccine to the Philippines as part of its worldwide effort to help end COVID-19.

This is the US government’s second bilateral vaccine donation to the Philippines in less than a month following the delivery of 3.2 million one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccines last July.

President Duterte led the welcoming of the US-donated Moderna vaccines at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

The shipment 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.

“Recent outbreaks in the region remind us all this pandemic is not yet over, but the science is clear – the best way to stay healthy, to keep your loved ones safe, and to bring this pandemic to an end is to get vaccinated. The United States is working, and will continue to work, with the Philippines to make safe, effective vaccines widely available throughout the country,” US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law said.

Duterte and Law were joined at the ceremony by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, IATF Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez, and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.

To date, the Philippines has received more than 13.3 million vaccine doses through the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), a global initiative run by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

The US is the largest monetary contributor to Gavi, having provided nearly P100 billion ($2 billion) to the Alliance.

The United States has worked closely with Philippine stakeholders throughout the pandemic to protect public health and support the local response to the pandemic and has so far provided an assistance amounting to over Php1.37 billion ($27.5 million).