The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, April 5, said the Philippines will be donating Covid-19 vaccines to Myanmar and Papua New Guinea soon.
DOH Spokesperson Maria Rosario S. Vergeire said they are now coordinating with the two countries to successfully donate some of the country's Covid-19 vaccines.
“Definitely, mag-pu-push through po ang pag-do-donate (the donation will push through). Nag-umpisa na po ang arrangements o pakikipag-usap sa mga bansang ito (We have started the arrangements or talks with these two countries),” she said.
According to the spokesperson, the details such as the number and brand of vaccines to be donated are not yet available, saying DOH is still “finalizing the inventory.”
Vergeire said donating “excess vaccines” is part of DOH’s plan to help other countries “since we are one with the WHO (World Health Organization) in terms of equity in distributing these vaccines.”
“Nakita naman nating that in excess naman tayo ngayon (We have excess Covid-19 vaccines) so we are going to donate the vaccines that we have right now,” she added.
In March, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III assured the public that the country has an ample supply of Covid-19 vaccines as he bared the plan to donate some vaccines to other countries.
Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Ma. “Joey” Concepcion III has recently disclosed that around 27 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine are set to expire in July.