MANILA -- The Philippines received an additional 326,400 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses on Sunday, August 8, as the government ramps up its vaccination efforts to curb the spread of the highly-transmissible coronavirus Delta variant.
The latest shipment arrived via Singapore Airlines flight SQ912 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 3:35 p.m and was welcomed by Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr, chief implementer and vaccine czar, National Task Force Against COVID-19; Raymond T. Azurin, senior vice president for corporate affairs, Zuellig Pharma Corp; Ariel Valencia, director, Department of Health; and Carmelita Talusan, district collector, Bureau of Customs.
The delivery is the third shipment of government-procured dosesfrom the United States-based vaccine maker.
The first shipment of 249,600 doses arrived on June 27, while the second shipment of 250,800 shots arrived on July 15.
Of the latest shipment, 224,400 shots were procured by the national government, while the remaining 102,000 doses were purchased by the private sector led by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI).
On August 3, the 3,000,060 Moderna doses donated by the United States government through the COVAX facility arrived in the country.
