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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider China to donate additional 400,000 vaccine doses to PH --- Duterte

China to donate additional 400,000 vaccine doses to PH --- Duterte

Published Mar 4, 2021 07:43 pm

More coronavirus vaccines are coming the country's way.

China has offered to donate an additional 400,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines to the Philippines, President Duterte announced Thursday, March 4.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
(KARL NORMAN ALONZO/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

The Asian giant earlier donated 600,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines to the Philippines in affirmation of steadfast support in battling the pandemic. The government has started administering the donated vaccines to health workers Monday, March 1, a day after the supply was flown into the country. "I will be receiving another batch. And then another --- China would give us another 400, making their donation to this country 1 million," the President said during the inauguration of a school building in Valenzuela City Thursday.

Although the country has obtained its first batch of vaccine supply, the President has preferred to get injected with another Chinese-made vaccine --Sinopharm. In his visit to Valenzuela, Duterte confirmed his preference for the vaccine brand made by the Chinese manufacturer over western suppliers.

"Ang akin is Sinopharm, China. Hindi masyado ako maano diyan sa mga produkto ng puti (I am not fond of the products by the west)," he said.

The President earlier expressed gratitude to China for the donated vaccines, saying he intends to visit Beijing to thank Chinese President Xi Jinping. He said a debt of gratitude should be paid with a personal visit.

The President also announced that the upcoming vaccine delivery from the World Health Organization's COVAX facility Thursday. Just like when he welcomed the arrival of the Chinese vaccines last weekend, Duterte is expected to witness the turnover ceremony of 487,200 AstraZeneca doses at the Manila airport. "Itong dumating na AstraZeneca, donation rin ito ng WHO. It is the answer to their call that rich nations must also fund the poor nations because no one is safe until everybody is safe. So that’s how it is," Duterte said.

In a bid to curb the spread of the pandemic, the government aims to give free inoculations to up to 70 million Filipinos this year to attain herd immunity. Around 160 million vaccines are expected to be secured by the country before the end of the year.

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