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MANILA, Philippines – The United States has already donated a total of P97.2 billion ($ 2 billion) to the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) initiative, which, according to the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, is so far the largest contribution made to the global vaccine exchange plan.
The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines revealed this figure as it welcomed the successful arrival of 487,200 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from British Swedish firm AstraZeneca to the Philippines on Thursday via COVAX.
“The United States has already donated Php97.2 billion ($ 2 billion) to COVAX, by far the largest contribution, to ensure that the Philippines and other countries receive COVID-19 vaccines,” the US Embassy said in a statement on Friday.
In February, the US government announced its plans to contribute a total of $ 194.4 billion ($ 4 billion) to the COVAX Advanced Market Engagement.
COVAX aims for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
“The United States is proud to be the largest contributor to COVAX and we welcome the successful arrival of the first tranche of AstraZeneca vaccines to the Philippines. As we fight the pandemic together, the United States will continue to support the Philippines’ COVID-19 vaccination and mitigation efforts, ”said US Embassy Charge d’Affaires John Law.
According to the US Embassy, US contributions to COVAX through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will support the purchase and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines for populations “more vulnerable and at risk “of the world in 92 low and middle income. countries.
Total U.S. government assistance to the Philippines to help address the COVID-19 situation here has so far amounted to more than P1.1 billion ($ 23.4 million), the U.S. Embassy added.
The Department of Health (DOH) previously said that the initial batch of AstraZeneca vaccines delivered to the Philippines was developed in South Korea and donated by European countries.
/ MUF
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