EU DONATION. The National Task Force Against Covid-19 and diplomats from the European Union (EU) countries receive the vaccine donations for the Philippines on Wednesday (Dec. 15, 2021) at the NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City. Their donations are part of the largest single-day delivery of vaccines reaching over 10 million doses. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)
MANILA – At least three European countries have expressed to continue their support to the Philippines in accessing vaccines against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
This, as nearly 7 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines donated by Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom arrived on Wednesday, which are part of over 10 million vaccine doses delivered in the country, the highest single-day delivery of Covid-19 vaccines to date.
Two batches of Moderna vaccines donated by the German government arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport -- one in the afternoon with 856,800 doses and the other batch in the evening with 2,840,100 doses.
In total, 3,696,900 doses of Moderna vaccine were donated by the German government through the COVAX Facility.
“We regard it important to support the Philippine efforts in the Covid response for a fast and sustainable recovery, and trust that these vaccines will be used in the upcoming vaccination drive contributing to the vaccination of minors in the context of necessary reopening of schools as well as to the boosters of healthcare workers and front-liners,” German Ambassador to the Philippines Anke Reiffenstuel said in a media interview.
She added that with the vaccine donations, Germany is living up to its commitment to international solidarity and cooperation, especially in times of crisis.
On the other hand, the Dutch government donated 3,055,200 doses of Janssen vaccines.
“I’m very happy that we can support the Vax to the Max Campaign of the Filpino government and very pleased that we can do that together with the European partner, so it’s team Europe at work,” Dutch Ambassador to the Philippines Saskia de Lang said.
European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron also joined Reiffenstuel and de Lang during the vaccine arrival.
Meanwhile, the UK donated another 214,500 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, bringing its total vaccine donation to the Philippines to around 6 million doses to date.
“On behalf of the British Embassy in Manila, I am very delighted that we are able to make another bilateral donation to the Philippines,” said British Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Alastair Totty.
Totty said London will continue to support the Philippine government in its vaccination drive by expanding vaccine donations “to ensure equitable access of vaccines around the world, especially to countries like the Philippines”.
National Task Force Against Covid-19 Assistant Secretary Wilben Mayor has thanked the governments of Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK for the fresh jab donations.
Mayor said the Moderna vaccines donated by Germany will be allocated for the primary shots of minors and the booster shots for the healthcare workers and front-liners.
The Janssen jabs from the Dutch government will be sent to island provinces especially for the far-flung areas, while the AstraZeneca donation of the British government will be allocated for the next round of the national vaccination campaign on Thursday and Friday.
This week alone, the Philippines is expecting a delivery of a total of 14,525,700 coronavirus vaccine doses from six European states, Veron said.
For the EU, this donation by the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, France, Spain, and Austria is a "strong gesture of solidarity" to Manila's fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“Developing, sharing, and distributing vaccines against Covid-19 is among the most pressing challenges we face today," Véron said.
"By delivering this large amount of vaccines at a critical period, the EU and its Member States stand in full solidarity with the Philippines. It is in our mutual interest to confront this global pandemic and end it as soon as possible,” he added.
Veron said an additional 9.9 million vaccine doses are expected to be donated by EU member states through the COVAX Facility by the end of the year.
The EU and its member states are so far the biggest donors of Covid-19 vaccines in the world.
Last week, the EU together with the World Health Organization also donated 200 oxygen concentrators and relevant consumables worth over PHP7 million to the Department of Health.
The oxygen cylinders were distributed to 11 health facilities, as far as Batanes General Hospital in the north and Zamboanga City Medical Center in the south.
Also on Wednesday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the country has now an "oversupply" of Covid-19 jabs as the current stock of vaccines exceeded the deliveries expected this year.
"'Pag tiningnan natin, sobra-sobra na ang bakuna natin. We are still trying to encourage everybody to get their vaccines, even their booster doses kasi meron na ho tayong oversupply sa ngayon (If we look at it, we have more than enough vaccines. We are still trying to encourage everybody to get their vaccines, even their booster doses because we now have an oversupply)," Vergeire said in a television interview.
Apart from the supply, Vergeire noted there are no problems with the country's central storage because the vaccine doses are also immediately delivered to the local government units once they arrive.
As of Tuesday, the National Task Force on Covid-19 reported the country received a total of 166,851,720 doses and 24 million more doses are expected to arrive this week.
To avoid wastage of certain doses, the Food and Drug Administration is working with vaccine manufacturers to extend the shelf life of vaccines like AstraZeneca.
Vergeire disclosed the shelf life of a batch of Pfizer and Sinovac vaccines was extended earlier this year.
In June, the six-month extension for a batch of Pfizer doses was granted.
Vergeire clarified such approval "does not necessarily apply to the country's entire vaccine supply.
"It will depend on the batches of these vaccines, specific batches of vaccines," she said. (with report from Teresa Montemayor/PNA)
