Article by:
Lade Jean Kabagani
MANILA – Fellow Southeast Asian nations will most likely receive life-saving Covid-19 vaccines to be donated by the Philippines, Presidential Adviser on Covid-19 Response, Secretary Vince Dizon, said Friday.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies data as of February 28 showed Timor-Leste (42.6 percent or 571,418) and Myanmar (39.2 percent or 20,919,933) have yet to fully vaccinate at least half of their population.
The Philippines has fully vaccinated at least 64 million or 71 percent of the eligible population.
"Tingin ko pinagpala ang Pilipinas kasi marami tayong nakuhang bakuna, maraming nag-donate sa atin, marami tayong nabili at ngayon panahon naman para tumutulong tayo sa mga ibang bansa (I think the Philippines is blessed because we have received many vaccines, we got many donations, we have purchased a lot, and now it's time for us to help other countries)," Dizon said during the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic Team visit in Baguio City.
"Dahil nga marami tayong supply, we have more than enough for primary doses and booster shots. Gusto rin natin makatulong doon sa mga kapitbahay nating mga bansa at iba pang mga bansa na kulang sa bakuna (Because we have enough supply, we have more than enough for primary doses and booster shots. We also wanted to help our neighboring countries and the other countries that are lacking with jab supply)," he added.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Health are identifying the receiving countries as well as the quantity and which brands to donate, Dizon said.
"Uunahin natin syempre ang mga kapitbahay natin sa Asia pero magdo-donate din ang gobyerno sa iba pang mga bansa (We will of course prioritize our neighbors in Asia but the government will also donate to other countries)," Dizon said. "Hintayin na lang muna natin ang announcement ng DFA (Let's just wait for the DFA's announcement)." (PNA)
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