The United Kingdom (U.K.) will donate 415,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses to the Philippines as part of its 100 million dose pledge to provide vaccines to the marginalized parts of the world.
According to British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, the donation is part of the first batch promised by the British government to poor countries to ensure the safety of everyone from COVID-19.
He added that the U.K. will start to distribute 9 million doses to various countries this week including the 415,000 doses allotted for the Philippines.
“The UK is sending 415,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to the Philippines. This is part of the first batch of the 100 million doses we’ve pledged to get the poorest parts of the world vaccinated as a matter of urgency. We’re doing this to help the most vulnerable, but also because we know we won’t be safe until everyone is safe.”
British Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Price said the British government is “helping COVID-19 vaccines reach more countries.”
“We’re donating 415,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to the Philippines so that more people here can get vaccinated,” he added.
In relation to this, National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 Chief Implementer and vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. expressed his gratitude towards the country, noting that the donation will greatly help the Philippines in vaccinating more Filipinos to ensure their protection against the virus.
“This generous donation of vaccine doses to the Philippines will boost the national government’s capacity to provide the country’s most vulnerable sectors with an added layer of protection, particularly our uniformed personnel who put their lives on the line to ensure the safety and welfare of the Filipino people across the country.”
Report from Bernard Jaudian/NGS-rir
