Philippines gets 1.1M AstraZeneca doses from Japan

The Philippines received 1.124 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines donated by Japan on Thursday, July 8.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III stated that these vaccines will be allocated to areas with high Covid-19 infection rates.

President Rodrigo Duterte thanked Japan for the donation and emphasized its importance in achieving herd immunity.

The shipment arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport and was welcomed by Philippine officials, including Duterte, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., and Health Secretary Duque.

Japanese Chargé d'affaires ad interim Masahiro Nakata also attended the turnover ceremony at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

Duterte highlighted the deep friendship between the Philippines and Japan, noting their cooperation in fighting the pandemic.