QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- The Philippines has received its first and second shipment of one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccines totalling 3,240,850 on July 16 and 17, courtesy of the United States Government as part of its worldwide effort to help end COVID-19. 

This is the first time the Philippines has acquired the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, a safe, trusted, and easy to store shot widely used in the United States.

The shipment was provided directly to the Philippines by the U.S. Government, with delivery via the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility, a global initiative to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. 

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr., Secretary of Health Francisco Duque III, IATF Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez, Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Karl Chua were joined by U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires John Law and Acting USAID Mission Director Sean Callahan and other stakeholders at Ninoy Aquino International Airport to welcome the arrival of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines on July 16 and 17. 

“This U.S. donation of vaccines from our domestic supply to the Philippines, our oldest treaty ally in Asia, demonstrates our close and abiding relationship, and how important this partnership is to us.  This one-shot, easy to store vaccine will protect millions of lives across the country,” said Chargé d’Affaires Law.

The Philippines has previously received more than 7 million vaccine doses through the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), a global initiative run by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.  The United States is the largest monetary contributor to Gavi, having already donated over Php100 billion ($2 billion) to the Alliance. 

The United States has worked closely with Philippine stakeholders throughout the pandemic to protect public health and support the local response to COVID-19.  To date, total U.S. government COVID-19 assistance to the Philippines amounts to over Php1.38 billion ($27.5 million). (PIA-NCR)