THE Philippine government expressed its appreciation to the various stakeholders who made possible the continuous arrival of COVID-19 vaccines into the country.
National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. expressed this appreciation during the arrival of the latest batch of COVID-19 vaccines totaling 889,200 doses from Pfizer delivered to the country today, October 2, 2021.
Galvez thanked the World Health Organization, the UNICEF, the GAVI Alliance and the US government for the donated vaccines from the COVAX Facility.
“We highly appreciate your efforts for ensuring the delivery of these vaccines despite the limited global vaccine supply and logistical challenges you face. On behalf of President Duterte and the Filipino people, we thank you for your compassion and generosity,” Galvez said in a statement.
He said the shipment is another testament that nothing is impossible if we all put our acts together to combat this pandemic.
At present, the COVAX Facility has provided a total of 17,840,230 doses, which means more than eight million Filipinos will be saved from COVID-19.
“These doses will provide a major boost to our efforts to accelerate the implementation of our vaccine program and further expand its coverage,” Galvez averred.
On hand to welcome the arrival of the Pfizer vaccines together with Secretary Galvez at the NAIA Terminal 3 were Michelle Lang-Alli, USAID Health Director; Heather Variava, US Embassy chargé d’affaires; Dr. Reinhard Dalumpines, National Immunization Consultant, UNICEF; Dr. Maria Soledad Antonio, director, Department of Health-Bureau of International Health Cooperation; and Dr. Ariel Valencia, DOH director.